Plant Soil Environ., 2018, 64(3):114-119 | DOI: 10.17221/13/2018-PSE

The biochar effect on soil respiration and nitrificationOriginal Paper

Barbora ŠLAPÁKOVÁ1, Julie JEŘÁBKOVÁ2, Karel VOŘÍŠEK*,1, Václav TEJNECKÝ2, Ondřej DRÁBEK2
1 Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Soil microorganisms play a main role in the nutrient cycle and they also play an important role in soil health. This article studies the influence of three rates of biochar (0.5, 1 and 3%) in comparison with control (0 biochar) in two different soils (Valečov and Čistá) on soil microbiota activities. The biochar was prepared from 80% of digestate from Zea mays L. and 20% of cellulose fibres by pyrolysis (470°C, 17 min). The biochar ability to influence microbial processes in soil was determined by respiration and nitrification tests. There were no significant differences between basal respiration of control samples and biochar-amended samples. Basal respiration in the Valečov soil reached average amounts from 1.32 to 1.52 mg CO2/h/100 g. In the Čistá soil, basal respiration reached average amounts from 1.40 to 1.49 mg CO2/h/100 g. No significant differences were proved also in nitrification tests of both soils. Nitrifying potential was the highest in 3% rate of biochar amendment. There were no negative changes in the measured soil parameters. CO2 efflux was not higher in biochar-amended soil.

Keywords: microbial activity; mineralization; soil amendment; cambisol

Published: March 31, 2018  Show citation

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ŠLAPÁKOVÁ B, JEŘÁBKOVÁ J, VOŘÍŠEK K, TEJNECKÝ V, DRÁBEK O. The biochar effect on soil respiration and nitrification. Plant Soil Environ. 2018;64(3):114-119. doi: 10.17221/13/2018-PSE.
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