Enhancing Apple Orchard Productivity through Biochar and Fertilizer Amendments: A Soil Aggregation Study

Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment Pub Date : 2023-12-15 DOI:10.56946/jspae.v2i2.277

Azaz Shakir, J. Bocianowski

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Abstract

The declining productivity of apple trees can be attributed to the adverse effects of unbalanced climatic conditions and dynamic soil properties. Addressing these challenges through sustainable agricultural practices is crucial to improving apple orchard productivity and ensuring a resilient agricultural system. To enhance the function of fragile ecosystem services, the addition of biochar at an appropriate rate along with chemical fertilizers (NPK) is considered an efficient approach for improving apple trees productivity. The treatments combinations were 0 t ha-1 (Ck), 4 t ha-1 (T1), 8 t ha-1 (T2), 12 t ha-1 (T3), 16 t ha-1 (T4), and 20 t ha-1 (T5). Our results demonstrated that, biochar addition rate in the T5 significantly increased macro-aggregates (WSAs > 0.25 mm), mean weight diameter (MWD) and therefore decreased micro-aggregates (WSAs < 0.25 mm) compare to the control. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (T.N) in both the bulk soil and water stable aggregates (WSAs) showed similar and an increased trend with biochar addition rate. However, the trend of C:N ratio was in opposition with biochar addition rate for both the bulk soil and WSAs. Additionally, biochar addition rate (T5) significantly intensified partitioning proportion (%) of the SOC, and T.N in WSAs > 0.25 mm, and WSAs < 0.25 mm and therefore showed non significance differences for the others treatments. Such a partitioning proportion of the WSAs 0.5-0.25 mm were lower than the WSAs > 0.5 mm and WSAs < 0.25 mm. These results suggested that biochar addition rate (T5) with chemical fertilizer had a significant effect on the stability of aggregates associated SOC, T.N, and C:N ratio and it may also have a capability in optimizing partitioning proportion (%) of the SOC and T.N in WSAs > 0.25 mm. Thus, it is therefore suggested that biochar addition rate (T5) with chemical fertilizers is the best preference for the stability and optimization of the aggregate associated SOC and T.N which may enhance partitioning proportion (%) of the SOC and T.N in an apple growing soil.

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通过生物炭和肥料添加剂提高苹果园生产力：土壤团聚研究

苹果树生产力的下降可归因于不平衡的气候条件和动态土壤特性的不利影响。通过可持续农业实践应对这些挑战，对于提高苹果园的生产力和确保农业系统的弹性至关重要。为了增强脆弱生态系统的功能，在施用化肥（氮磷钾）的同时添加适当比例的生物炭被认为是提高苹果树生产力的有效方法。处理组合为 0 吨/公顷（Ck）、4 吨/公顷（T1）、8 吨/公顷（T2）、12 吨/公顷（T3）、16 吨/公顷（T4）和 20 吨/公顷（T5）。结果表明，与对照组相比，T5 组的生物炭添加量明显增加了大团聚体（WSA > 0.25 mm）和平均重量直径（MWD），因此减少了微团聚体（WSA < 0.25 mm）。土壤有机碳（SOC）和总氮（T.N）在块状土壤和水稳定团聚体（WSAs）中的含量与生物炭添加量相似，且呈上升趋势。然而，在大体积土壤和水稳定团聚体中，碳氮比的变化趋势与生物炭添加率相反。此外，生物炭添加率（T5）显著提高了 WSA > 0.25 mm 和 WSA < 0.25 mm 中 SOC 和 T.N 的分配比例（%），因此与其他处理相比差异不显著。0.5-0.25 mm WSA 的分配比例低于 WSA > 0.5 mm 和 WSA < 0.25 mm。这些结果表明，在施用化肥的同时添加生物炭（T5）对与 SOC、T.N 和 C:N 比率相关的团聚体的稳定性有显著影响，而且生物炭还能优化 WSA > 0.25 mm 中 SOC 和 T.N 的分配比例（%）。因此，建议在施用化肥的同时添加生物炭（T5），这对稳定和优化与集料相关的 SOC 和 T.N（可提高苹果种植土壤中 SOC 和 T.N 的分配比例（%））是最佳选择。

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Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment Agricultural Sciences-Environmental Sciences

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期刊介绍： Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment is an open peer-reviewed journal that considers articles and review articles on all aspects of agricultural sciences. Aim and Scope Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment (ISSN: 2957-9082) is an international journal dedicated to the advancements in agriculture throughout the world. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists, students, academics and engineers all over the world to promote, share, and discuss various new issues and developments in different areas of agricultural sciences. All manuscripts must be prepared in English and are subject to a rigorous and fair peer-review process. Accepted papers will appear online within 3 weeks followed by printed hard copy. Journal of Soil, Plant and Environment (ISSN: 2957-9082) publishes original papers including but not limited to the following fields: Soil–plant relationships; crop science; soil science; biometry; crop, soil, pasture, and range management; crop, forage, and pasture production and utilization; turfgrass; agroclimatology; agronomic models; integrated pest management; integrated agricultural systems; and various aspects of entomology, weed science, animal science, plant pathology, and agricultural economics as applied to production agriculture. We are also interested in: 1) Short Reports– 2-5 pages where the paper is intended to present either an original idea with theoretical treatment or preliminary data and results; 2) Book Reviews – Comments and critiques of recently published books in agricultural sciences.