Abstract:
Objective In order to explore the response of dry red soil to the types and application of biochar, the basic physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in soil were measured.
Method The biochar of rice hull (A) and peanut hull (B) were selected, and the application rates were set 0 (CK), 10, 20, 40 and 60 t hm−2, respectively. There were 9 treatments and 27 plots in total. One year after biochar application, 0-30 cm soil was sampled for the determination of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, water content and enzyme activity.
Result The results showed that the nutrient content and enzyme activities of dry red soil were significantly changed after the application of rice shell biochar and peanut shell biochar, and the content of soil nutrients and moistures were significantly increased with the raising biochar rates in all soil layers. The contents of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and soil moisture in dry red soil treated with 60 t hm−2 biochar were significantly higher than those of other treatments. The activities of sucrase, acid phosphatase and catalase increased with the raising rates of biochar application in various degrees. In particular, the treatment of 60 t m−2 peanut shell biochar increased soil sucrase activities significantly. And soil urease activities declined with the increasing rates of biochar in 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm.
Conclusion Tthe application of biochar can significantly improve the nutrient contents, soil water content and enzyme activities of dry red soil. More than 40 t hm−2 biochar can be applied to 0-30 cm soil layer as an important additive for the improvement of dry red soil.