Field Assessment of Biochar Interactions With Chemical and Biological N Fertilization in Pointed White Cabbage

Abstract

The interaction of biochar with mineral fertilization has attracted attention as a strategy to reduce N losses and enhance nitrogen use efficiency. In this study, we investigated the coapplication of biochar with two optimized fertilization strategies based on split urea and a microbial inoculant (Azospirillum brasilense) in a commercial pointed white cabbage crop. Additionally, we evaluated a third optimized N fertilization alternative, a biochar-based fertilizer (BBF) enriched in plant-available N, which was developed from the same biochar. We assessed environmental impacts such as greenhouse gasses (GHG) and NH₃ emissions, yield-scaled N₂O emissions, and global warming potential (GWP). Additionally, we evaluated agronomical outcomes such as crop yield, plant N, and chlorophyll concentration. Moreover, we examined the N-fixing gene's total and relative abundance (nifH and nifH/16S). Biochar and BBF exhibited similar crop yield, GHG, and NH₃ emissions compared to split applications of the synthetic fertilizer. The main difference was associated with the higher soil C sequestration in biochar and BBF treatments that reduced the associated GWP of these fertilization strategies. Finally, biochar favored the activity of the N-fixing bacteria spread, compared to the sole application of bacteria and BBF demonstrated a promoting effect in the soil's total abundance of natural N-fixing bacteria.