Abstract:
Objective The effects of different biochar additions on soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions were studied in Southern rice fields in China, to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for carbon sequestration and emission reduction in rice ecosystems.
Method Southern paddy soils were selected as research objects, 4 application rates of rice straw biochar were set under the conventional fertilization condition, which were 0, 7.5, 15.0 and 22.5 t hm−2, respectively, with no fertilization and no biochar addition as the control. The soil physical and chemical properties, soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emission, and rice yield were measured, and the net warming potential and greenhouse gas emission intensity were evaluated.
Result The addition of 22.5 t hm−2 rice straw biochar significantly reduced soil bulk density by 5.1% compared with the treatment without biochar, and significantly increased soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium by 8.1%, 38.8%, 55.2% and 64.2%, respectively. Soil carbon sequestration after rice harvest increased with the increase of biochar addition. Soil carbon sequestration per kg of biochar did not increase continuously with the increase of biochar addition and reached the highest value of 0.361 kg when the biochar amount was 15.0 t hm−2. Compared to the treatments without biochar, the treatment with 22.5 t hm−2 rice straw biochar significantly increased the rice yield by 14.5%. Compared with no fertilization treatment, the N2O, CH4 and CO2 emission fluxes were increased under all fertilization conditions. Compared with the treatment without the addition of biochar, the treatment with 22.5 t hm−2 rice straw biochar significantly reduced the cumulative emission of N2O and CH4 by 19.9% and 51.6%, and significantly reduced global warming potential, net global warming potential, and greenhouse gas emission intensity by 49.9%, 291.7% and 55.3%, respectively.
Conclusion The addition of 22.5 t hm−2 rice straw biochar can be chosen as the optimal strategy for carbon sequestration and emission reduction in a rice paddy, which will help to achieve China's dual-carbon goal.