Effects of maize straw biochar application on soil physical properties, morph-physiological attributes, yield and water use efficiency of greenhouse tomato

Jie Zhang, Xinna Liu, Qian Wang

Abstract


Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production was threatened by the inefficiency of fertilizers, contributing to the deterioration of the soil environment under greenhouse conditions in southern China. Biochar application could ameliorate the physical properties of soil and enhance the growth and productivity of tomatoes. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted with four biochar addition rates of 0% (BA0), 1% (BA1), 3% (BA3), and 5% (BA5). Results showed that the soil physical properties, morph-physiological indicators, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomatoes with biochar addition were significantly higher than those of tomatoes without biochar addition. Among the different treatments, BA5 provided the highest total porosity (53.09%), field capacity (40.73%), plant height (72.5 cm), net photosynthetic rate (16.04 mmol/m2·s), total dry matter (184.65 g/plant), yield (54.9 t/hm2), and WUE (38.5 kg/m3). The yield and WUE increased from 44.5 t/hm2 and 31.2 kg/m3 under BA0, respectively, to 54.9 t/hm2 and 38.5 kg/m3 under BA5, respectively. The results suggest that BA5 can maximize improvements in soil physical properties to augment plant growth, thereby increasing the yield and WUE of tomatoes. However, the effects of BA3 and BA5 on WUE were not significantly different. Thus, from the perspective of economic investment, BA3 is recommended.
Keywords: maize straw, biochar application, soil properties, water use efficiency, tomato, greenhouse
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20231603.7437

Citation: Zhang J, Liu X H, Wang Q. Effects of maize straw biochar application on soil physical properties, morph-physiological attributes, yield and water use efficiency of greenhouse tomato. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2023; 16(3): 151–159.

Keywords


maize straw, biochar application, soil properties, water use efficiency, tomato, greenhouse

Full Text:

PDF

References


Han P, Bayram Y, Shaltiel-Harpaz L, Sohrabi F, Saji A, Esenali U T, et al. Tuta absoluta continues to disperse in Asia: Damage, ongoing management and future challenges. J. Pest Sci, 2019; 92: 1317-1327.

Du Y D, Niu W Q, Gu X B, Zhang Q, Cui B J. Water- and nitrogen-saving potentials in tomato production: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 2018; 210: 296-303.

Lu J, Shao G C. Cui J T, Wang X J, Keabetswe L. Yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency of tomato for processing under regulated deficit irrigation: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 2019; 222: 301-312.

Yan C N, Huang J, Cao C, Li R Q, Ma Y X, Wang Y Y. Effects of PVP-coated silver nanoparticles on enzyme activity, bacterial and archaeal community structure and function in a yellow-brown loam soil. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020; 27(8): 8058-8070.

Palansooriya K N, Ok Y S, Awad Y M, Lee S S, Sung J K, Koutsospyros A, et al. Impacts of biochar application on upland agriculture: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2019; 234: 52-64.

Ahmed A F, Raghavan V. Influence of wood-derived biochar on the physico-mechanical and chemical characteristics of agricultural soils. International Agrophysics, 2018; 32(1): 1-10.

Alghamdi A G. Biochar as a potential soil additive for improving soil physical propertiesa review. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2018; 11(24): 766. doi:10.1007/s12517-018-4056-7.

Huff M D, Marshall S, Saeed H A, Lee J W. Surface oxygenation of biochar through ozonization for dramatically enhancing cation exchange capacity. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 2018; 5: 18. doi: 10.1186/s40643-018-0205-9.

Tan Z X, Lin C K, Ji X Y, Rainey T J. Returning biochar to fields: A review. Applied Soil Ecology, 2017; 116: 1-11.

Rittl T F, Canisares L, Sagrilo E, Butterbach-Bahl K, Dannenmann M, Cerri C P. Temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition varies with biochar application and soil type. Pedosphere, 2020; 30: 336-342.

Randolph P R R, Bansode O A, Hassan D J, Rehrah R, Ravella M R, Reddy D W, et al. Effect of biochars produced from solid organic municipal waste on soil quality parameters. Journal of Environmental Management, 2017; 192: 271-280.

Alfadil A A, Xia J H, Shaghaleh H, Hamoud Y A, Ibrahim J N, Hamad A A A, et al. Wheat straw biochar application improves the morphological, physiological, and yield attributes of maize and the physicochemical properties of soil under deficit irrigation and salinity stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 2021; 44(16): 2399-2420.

Alfadil A A, Shaghaleh H, Hamoud Y A, Xia J H, Wu T N, Hamad A A A, Wang Y T, Abdoulaye A O, Sheteiwy M S. Straw biochar-induced modification of the soil physical properties enhances growth, yield and water productivity of maize under deficit irrigation. Cnmmunications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2021; 52(16): 1954-1970.

Li C J, Xiong Y W, Qu Z Y, Xu X, Huang Q Z, Huang G H. Impact of biochar addition on soil properties and water-fertilizer productivity of tomato in semi-arid region of Inner Mongolia, China. Geoderma, 2018; 331: 100-108.

Ding S P, Zhang G X, Yao Y T, Sun Y S, Ding F J. Effects of combined application of earthworm manure biochar on growth and Photosynthesis of protected tomato in saline alkali soil. Northern horticulture, 2021; 8(18): 60-67. (in Chinese)

Salazar M P, Lozano L A, Villarreal R, Irizar A B, Barraco M, Polich N G, et al. Capacity and Intensity Indicators to evaluate the effect of different crop sequences and cover crops on soil physical quality of two different textured soils from Pampas Region. Soil & Tillage Research, 2022; 217: 105268. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2021.105268.

Dong X L, Lin Q M. Biochar effect on soil physical properties: A review. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2018; 26(12): 1846-1854.

Chen F J, Xia H J, Liu F D, Kong W J, Lu S Y. Characteristics of biochar and its effects and mechanism on soil properties. Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology, 2022; 12(1): 161-172.

Li Q Q, Xu C Y, Geng Z C, Zhang J C, Chen S L, Wang H L, et al. Impact of biochar on soil bulk density and aggregates of lou soil. Environmental Science, 2019; 40(7): 3388-3396.

Tokova L, Igaz D, Horak J, Aydin E. Effect of biochar application and re-application on soil bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water content and soil water availability in a silty loam haplic luvisol. AGRONOMY-BASEL, 2020; 10(7): 1005. doi: 10.3390/agronomy10071005.

Liu Z D, Zhang K, Mi Z R, Qin A Z, Huang C, Ma Y C, et al. Effects of Water Deficit on Crop Growth and Water Use Under Different Soil Bulk Densities. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2019; 33(2): 115-120.

Glab T, Palmowska J, Zaleski T, Gondek K. Effect of biochar application on soil hydrological properties and physical quality of sandy soil. Geoderma, 2016; 281: 11-20.

Taskin M B, Kadioglu Y K, Sahin O, Inal A, Gunes A. Effect of acid modified biochar on the growth and essential and non- essential element content of bean, chickpea, soybean, and maize grown in calcareous soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2019; 50(13): 1604-1610.

Lévesque V, Jeanne T, Dorais M, Ziadi N, Hogue R, Antoun H. Biochars improve tomato and sweet pepper performance and shift bacterial composition in a peat-based growing medium. Appl. Soil Ecol, 2020; 153: 103579. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103579.

Gong Z T. Chinese soil taxonomy. Beijing: Science Press, 2001; 203p. (in Chinese)

Marx E, Hart J, Stevens R. Soil test interpretation guide EC 1478 extension & station communications. USA: Oregon State University, 1999.

Sommers D W, Nelson L E. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In Methods of soil analysis Part 3—Chemical methods, ed. Sparks D L, Page A L, Helmke P A, Loeppert R H, Soltanpour P N, Tabatabai M A, et al. Madison: Soil Science Society of America Inc. 1996; pp.961–1010.

Sims J R, Jackson G D. Rapid analysis of soil nitrate with chromotropic acid 1. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1971; 35(4): 603-606.

Henriksen A, Selmer-Olsen A. Automatic methods for determining nitrate and nitrite in water and soil extracts. Analyst, 1970; 95(1130): 514–518.

Jaiswal P. Soil, plant and water analysis. India: kalyani Publishers, 2011.

Tandon H. Methods of analysis of soils, plants, waters, and fertilizers. Fertilizers Development and Consultation Organization. New Delhi, India: 1993; pp.58–60.

Li J M, Wang P, Li J. Effects of irrigation amount on physiology, biochemistry and quality of greenhouse tomato under sub-low temperature. Agricultural Engineering, 2010; 26: 129-134. (in Chinese)

Blake G R, Hartge K. Bulk density 1. In Methods of soil analysis: Part 1—Physical and mineralogical methods, 1986; pp.363-375.

Zhao H S. The empirical formula of soil total porosity. Soil, 1978; 2: 49-50. (in Chinese)

Gao X F, Sun C, Bao S P. Study on the improvement of ring knife method for measuring soil field water capacity. Ningxia Engineering Technology, 2019; 18(4): 347-349. (in Chinese)

Farquhar G D, Sharkey T D. Stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology, 1982; 33: 317-345.

Ouda S, El-Mesiry T, Gaballah M. Increasing water use efficiency for wheat grown under water stress conditions. Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 2007; 3(12): 1766-1773.

Shomana T, Botha D, Agachi P. The water retention properties of biochar derived from broiler poultry litter as applied to the Botswana soil. DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy, 2020; 1: 67-72.

Obia A, Cornelissen G, Martinsen V, Smebye A B, Mulder J. Conservation tillage and biochar improve soil water content and moderate soil temperature in a tropical. Acrisol Soil and Tillage Research, 2020; 197: 104521. doi: 10.1016/j.still.2019.104521.

Igalavithana A D, Kim K H, Jung J M, Heo H S, Kwon EE, Tack F M, et al. Effect of biochars pyrolyzed in N2 and CO2, and feedstock on microbial community in metal(loid) s contaminated soils. Environment International, 2019; 126: 791-801.

Godlewska P, Ok Y S, Oleszczuk P. The dark side of black gold: Ecotoxicological aspects of biochar and biochar-amended soils. Journal of Hazardous Matrials, 2021; 403: 123833. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123833.

Yang F, Sui L, Tang C Y, Li J S, Cheng K, Xue Q. Sustainable advances on phosphorus utilization in soil via addition of biochar and humic substances. Science of the Total Environment, 2021; 768: 145106. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145106.

Fu Q, Zhao H, Li H, Li T X, Hou R J, Liu D, et al. Effects of biochar application during different periods on soil structures and water retention in seasonally frozen soil areas. Science of the Total Environment, 2019; 694: 133732. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133732.

Wang Y, Janz B, Engedal T, Neergaard A. Effect of irrigation regimes and nitrogen rates on water use efficiency and nitrogen uptake in maize. Agricultural Water Management, 2017; 179: 271–276.

Rasa K, Heikkinen J, Hannula M, Arstila K, Kulju S, Hyväluoma J. How and why does willow biochar increase a clay soil water retention capacity? Biomass and Bioenergy, 2018; 119: 346-353.

Du B J, Cao H X, Pan X Y, Zhang Z Y. Effects of biochar on yield and quality of tomato cultivated in greenhouse heavy loam under deficit irrigation. Agricultural Research in Arid Areas, 2020; 38: 136-142. (in Chinese)

Sun C X, Chen X, Cao M M, Li M Q, Zhang Y L. Growth and metabolic responses of maize roots to straw biochar application at different rates. Plant and Soil, 2017; 416(1-2): 487-502.

Wang H L, Tang X Y, Zhang W, Liu C, Guan Z, Xiao L. Effects of biocharapplication on tilth soil hydraulic properties of slope cropland ofpurple soil. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2015; 31(4): 107-112. (in Chinese)

Xie Z J,Wu J, Zhou C H. Effects of combining biochar-based fertilizer and milk vetch on dry matter accumulation and N use efficiencies of early rice in reddish paddy field of south China. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertitizer, 2020; 26(9): 1732-1739. (in Chinese)

Khan Z, Khan M N, Luo T, Zhang K K, Zhu K M, Rana M S, et al. Compensation of high nitrogen toxicity and nitrogen deficiency with biochar amendment through enhancement of soil fertility and nitrogen use efficiency promoted rice growth and yield. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 2021; 13(11): 1765-1784.

Zhang R H, Lan C J, Liu W, Jin Q, Guo Yu, Yu J H,et al. Effect of biochar on growth,yield and quality of open-field cherry tomato in counter season. Mo⁃lecular Plant Breeding, 2019; 17(14): 4831–4839. (in Chinese)

Zhou J S, Yu H X, Yang J, Sun W Q, Gao W W, Zhong Y M, et al. Effects of different amounts of biomass carbon on the yield and quality of Chinese cabbage and garlic. China agronomy bulletin, 2020; 36: 59-64. (in Chinese)

Faloye O T, Alatise M O, Ajayi A E, Ewulo B S. Effects of biochar and inorganic fertiliser applications on growth, yield and water use efficiency of maize under deficit irrigation. Agricultural Water Management, 2019; 217: 165-178.

Glab T, Zabinski A, Sadowska U, Gondek K, Kopec M, Mierzwa-Hersztek M, et al. Effects of co-composted maize, sewage sludge, and biochar mixtures on hydrological and physical qualities of sandy soil. Geoderma, 2018; 315: 27-35.

Wang Y Z, Su Z G, Zhou M H. Characteristics of surface soil porosity and its influencing factors in the northern agro pastoral ecotone. Grassland Science, 2020; 37: 1249-1258. (in Chinese)

Diatta A A, Fike J H, Baig M B. Effects of biochar on soil fertility and crop productivity in arid regions: a review. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2020; 13(14): 595. doi: 10.1007/s12517-020-05586-2

Zhang Y, Shi Y, Wang Y C. Beneficial effects of silicon on photosynthesis of tomato seedlings under water stress. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2018; 17(10): 2151-2159.




Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office