Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of biochar on the chemical properties of three types of soils and the nutrient uptake and yield of the maize plant grown on the soils. The experimental results are as follows: (i) In Loess soil, when the biochar application rate was 15 t/ha, the soil chemical properties was barely improved, but the nutrient uptake of maize was obviously improved. The amount of biochar application was at 30 t/ha, the result was just on the contrary and 60 t/ha application of biochar performed a poor effect on the soil chemical properties as well as on the nutrient uptake of maize. (ii) In sandy soil, when the application of biochar reached to 15 t/ha, there were not remarkable effects on soil chemical properties and moderate promoting effect on nutrient uptake of maize. Additionally, the biochar application at a rate of 30 t/ha led to a small effect on the both, but 60 t/ha amount made a significant improvement in both. (iii) In loessal soil, applying 15 t/ha biochar to soil had a moderate effect on chemical properties’ improvement, but the promotional effect on nutrient uptake of maize is poor. When the amount of biochar application was at 30 t/ha, soil chemical properties were significantly improved but the effect on nutrient uptake of maize was moderate. However, 60 t/ha biochar application obviously improved nutrient uptake of maize, but the effect of chemical properties improvement was poor.

Keywords:

Arid soil, biochar, chemical properties, maize, nutrient uptake,

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