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Journal of Tea Science ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 60-70.

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Effect of Biochar Addition on Ammonia Volatilization in Acid Tea Garden

WANG Feng1,2, CHEN Yuzhen1,2, WU Zhidan1,2, JIANG Fuying1,2, ZHANG Wenjin1, WENG Boqi2, YOU Zhiming1,2,*   

  1. 1. Tea Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fu′an 355015, China;
    2. Agriculture Ecology Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China
  • Received:2016-08-25 Revised:2016-11-25 Online:2017-02-15 Published:2019-08-22

Abstract: Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is a major reason for nitrogen loss in tea garden soils. Field experiment was carried out to study the effects of biochar on soil physiochemical properties and ammonia volatilization in acid tea gardens, which would provide scientific support for the appropriate application of biochar. Four treatments were included in the experiment, namely no N fertilizer (CK), N fertilizer (B0N1, 225βkg·hm-2), N fertilizer with 8 t·hm-2 biochar (B1N1) and N fertilizer with 16 t·hm-2 biochar (B2N1). The nitrogen was applied three times, namely top dressing in spring, top dressing in autumn and basal dressing in winter in the ratio of 3︰3︰4. Compared with the B0N1 (N-applying only), biochar treatments (B1N1 and B2N1) significantly increased soil pH and organic carbon content (P<0.05), while decreased soil bulk density (P<0.05). Moreover, the average soil NH4+-N and NO3--N concentrations in biochar treated soils were 5.34%-12.59% lower and 11.02%-36.54% higher than B0N1, indicating the nitrification was promoted. The total NH3-N volatilization losses in acid tea garden varied from 13.01βkg·hm-2 to 40.95βkg·hm-2 and the percentages of the losses relative to total amount of N-application ranged from 7.29 to 12.42%. NH3-N volatilization losses also varied significantly among applying stages, with the highest NH3-N volatilization loss in winter basal dressing. The NH3-N volatilization increased significantly with N application (P<0.05), but NH3-N volatilization in B1N1 and B2N1 were significantly decreased by 26.25% and 28.21% (P<0.05), respectively. In summary, the soil NH4+-N concentrations had a direct correlation with NH3 emission and the reduction of NH3-N volatilization in biochar treatments might be attributed to the decrease of NH4--N concentrations in soils.

Key words: biochar, soil physical and chemical properties, nitrogen volatilization, acid tea garden soils

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