Evaluating the effect of biochar rate and combination with fertilizer on the dynamics of soil nitrogen supply in tea plantation
Abstract Tea plantations commonly receive substantial quantities of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, with potential for considerable N loss to occur. This study assessed N retention in acidic tea plantation soil and examined how different biochar application rates and fertilizer combinations affect N dynami...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87942-4 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Tea plantations commonly receive substantial quantities of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, with potential for considerable N loss to occur. This study assessed N retention in acidic tea plantation soil and examined how different biochar application rates and fertilizer combinations affect N dynamics, highlighting the importance of innovative technologies to monitor and enhance N supply management. This research adopted a modified 2-week aerobic incubation and ion-exchange membrane (IEM) techniques to evaluate the soil N supply in tea plantations following early-summer top-dressing as influenced by various biochar rates and fertilizer combinations. We quantified the amount of mineralized N in acidic tea plantation soils during the summer. Our results show that biochar enhances soil N supply not by increasing N mineralization directly but by improving soil mineral N retention. Notably, a threshold effect was identified at biochar application rates of 20–30 tonnes ha−1. The window for maximizing the effectiveness of inorganic fertilizers applied during the summer months in tea plantations could only be 2–4 weeks. The use of biochar-based organic fertilizers can enhance this period by enhancing N retention and availability in the soil. Measuring N mineralization potential via aerobic incubations and N exposure using IEM technology effectively elucidated soil N dynamics during summer period. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |