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Biochar application to agriculture soil has been recommended as a strategy to reduce increasing CO2 emission in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. In this study, we evaluated the impact of two doses of biochar (10 and 20 t.ha−1) applied in 2014 and reapplied in 2018 combined with three fertilization levels (N0, N1, N2) on carbon dioxide emissions and selected physical and chemical soil properties in field conditions during spring season (April–June) in 2020. The field site is situated in the Nitra region of Slovakia (Malanta). The soil in the field was classified as a silt loam Haplic Luvisol. In this field research it was found that biochar application mostly in all treatments decreased cumulative CO2 emissions in rage from 4.2% to 30.4% compared to controls (B0N0, B0N2), except treatments where biochar was applied with lower level of N-fertilizer (N1) and treatment B20N0. According to our study results, it was confirmed that biochar can be a promising material for improving soil physical and chemical properties. Mainly, it has very good impact on soil pH, even after seven years of field experiment established. However, the response of soil CO2 fluxes to biochar application were regulated mainly by experiment length, biochar application rate, biochar properties, giving a new perspective for more comprehensive understanding on biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenges of harnessing higher productivity levels and sustainability of agriculture related to N fertilization is in expanding soil N2O emissions, which has become a serious issue in recent years. Recent studies suggest that biochar may be the solution to this problem, but there is still a knowledge gap related to biochar application rates and its reapplication in Central Europe; therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of biochar (initial application and reapplication in 2014 and 2018, respectively, at rates of 0, 10 and 20 t ha−1) combined with N-fertilizer (N0—0 kg N ha−1; N1—108 kg N ha−1 and N2—162 kg N ha−1) during the growing season of maize in 2019 (warm temperature with normal precipitation) on the changes of soil properties and N2O emissions in the silty loam, Haplic Luvisol, in the temperate climate of Slovakia. The results showed that the application and reapplication of biochar proved to be an excellent tool for increasing soil pH (in the range 7–13%), soil organic carbon—Corg (2–212%), and reducing the soil's NH4+ (41–69%); however, there were more pronounced positive effects when biochar was combined with N-fertilizer at the higher level (N2). The same effects were found in the case of N2O emissions (reduction in the range 33–83%). Biochar applied without N-fertilizer and combined with the higher fertilizer level had a suppressive effect on N2O emissions. Biochar did not have any effect on maize yield in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 the field experiments were established at two localities of the South-west Slovakia (1 Dolná Streda: sandy Arenosol and 2 Veľké Úľany: loamy Chernozem). The experiments involved biochar substrates (1 BS1 mix biochar, sheep manure and 2 BS2 mix biochar, sheep manure and digestate) in two application doses (10 and 20 t ha-1), which were applied independently compared with the unfertilized control (Co-NF) and combined with additional fertilization versus the fertilized control (Co-F), in order to verify their impacts on the changes of soil properties. In the spring and autumn of 2018--2020, within these experiments the soil samples were taken to determine the range of effect of the tested biochar substrates (BS) and also their combination with fertilization (F) on the changes of soil pH and surface charge of soil particles in the soils different in texture. The results pointed out the fact that a more significant effect of tested BS on soil pH was detected in sandy soil than loamy soil. In sandy soil, only the application of BS2 in doses 10 and 20 t ha-1 statistically significantly increased the soil pH in H2O in comparison with Co-NF. The application BS1 + F in dose 10 t ha-1 and BS2+F in dose 20 t ha-1 statistically significantly increased pH in KCl compared with Co-F. The fertilization to BS eliminated the considerable decrease of the soil pH in H2O both soils. In sandy soil, pH was substantially regulated by the content of alkali cations themselves in BS; however, in loamy soil, it occurred as a result of the increase of the content of soil organic carbon after the application of BS (R² = 0.339), but also BS + F (R² = 0.468). In sandy soil, the application of BS itself, owing to the change of the surface charge, influenced predominantly the sorption of anions. Conversely, the additional fertilization to BS treatments had an impact on the sorption of cations. In loamy soil, the application of BS and BS + F as a result of the change of surface charge did not have any significant effect on the total soil sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, many soils are impacted by degradation processes, which impose a risk to sustainable food production. There is a pressing need to limit these negative impact constraints to sustain the proper functioning of the soil-biota system and soil productivity. Biochar can be a nature-friendly solution for soil remediation; however, knowledge is incomplete in many aspects in this field, like the potential of biochar and biochar-based products as agents to immobilize toxic substances, including heavy metals (HMs) found in the soil. In this study, we investigated the effect of two biochar substrates (BSs) (1. biochar blended with farmyard manure as BS1, and 2. biochar blended with farmyard manure and digestate as BS2) at rates of 10 and 20 t ha−1 applied without or with fertilization (BS + F) on the immobilization of HMs in texturally different soils (1. sandy Arenosol, 2. loamy Chernozem, Slovakia). The results showed that application of BS had different effects in relation to soil textures. In sandy soil, BS improved soil properties, such as cation exchange capacity (an increase from 20 to 93%), soil organic carbon content (SOC) (an increase from 3 to 26%) and humic substances (HSs) stability (an increase from 12 to 20%). In loamy soil, SOC increased due to BS and BS + F in the range 3–19% and 12–55%, respectively. In both soils, the total content of HMs did not exceed the threshold limits for individual soils after BS and BS + F application. In sandy soil, the immobilization of HMs was due to a higher SOC content and a fulvic acids (FAs) content, while in loamy soil their elimination depended on a higher available phosphorus content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar application into soil has potential as a means for reducing soil greenhouse gas emissions and climate mitigation strategy. In this study, we evaluated the impact of two doses of biochar (10 and 20 t.ha−1) applied in 2014, combined with three fertilization levels (N0, N1, N2) on carbon dioxide (CO2) in field conditions during the growing season (April – October) in 2018. The field site is located in the Nitra region of Slovakia – Malanta. The soil in the field was classified as a silt loam Haplic Luvisol. There was not found any statistically significant (P <0.05) decreasing effect of biochar with or without N-fertilizer after four years of its application on average daily and cumulative CO2 emissions, while the CO2 emissions increased with additional N-fertilizer. Biochar decreased (insignificantly) the daily and cumulative CO2 emissions only in the treatments without N-fertilization and in the treatment fertilized with higher level of biochar application (20 t.ha−1) and N-fertilizer (80 kg.N.ha−1). According to these results it can be concluded that the biochar applied to soil is not able to reduce CO2 emissions after four years of its application when it is combined with usual agriculture practices which include N-fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this field study, under the soil conditions of southern Slovakia (Dolná Streda, sandy Haplic Arenosol), there were quantified the effects of biochar substrates (1. Effeco 50:50; 2. Effeco 33:33:33) in two rates (10 and 20 t.ha−1) applied alone or in combination with mineral fertilization on soil organic matter (SOM) content and crop yields for period of 3 years (2018-2020) but also the linear relationships between SOM and crop yields depending on the application of biochar substrates and its combination with mineral fertilizers. The results showed that the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) increased from 8.5 g.kg−1 in unfertilized control to 13.8 g.kg−1 in Effeco 33:33:33 at 20 t ha−1. However, SOC decreased from 13.6 g.kg−1 in fertilized control to 10.1 g.kg-1 in Effeco 50:50 at 10 t.ha−1. Biochar substrates and their combination with mineral fertilizers did not have a significant effect on changes in labile carbon in the soil. The effect on the crop yields was diametrically different in the first year after the application of biochar substrates compared to the second and third year. In the second and third year, the same trend was observed in the reaction to substrates – including a more robust effect on the increase in crop yields in the third year after the application of biochar substrates and also biochar substrates with mineral fertilizers. The linear relationships between SOC and crop yields were found only in biochar substrates alone treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current biochar application in the global agronomic practice focuses firstly on economic profits. In this paper, we would like to draw attention to our results and experience from the economic assessment of the agronomic effect of applied biochar through the generated crop yields. The results come from a field experiment (locality Dolná Malanta, Slovakia, silt loam Haplic Luvisol – the most intensively used soil in the Slovak Republic for agricultural purposes), where a biochar experiment was established in 2014. Based on our data, it is evident that both the application of biochar and its application in combination with N-fertilisation in field conditions at current realization prices of commodities in individual years and high input costs are still unprofitable. However, we emphasize that from an economic point of view of the stand ard agronomic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific studies show that the efficiency of biochar can be improved by its combination with other fertilisers. For this reason, fertiliser manufacturers are working to create products that combine biochar with other soil fertility enhancers suitable for different soil-climatic conditions. In this study, two types of biochar substrates (1. biochar blended with farmyard manure, and 2. biochar blended with farmyard manure as well as with digestate) at rates of 10 and 20 t/ha were applied alone or in combination with other manure and mineral fertilisers. These were added to Arenosol (sandy soil, Dolná Streda, Slovakia) and Chernozem (loamy soil, Veľké Úľany, Slovakia) to evaluate the soil physical properties to test the potential of these amendments for soil amelioration in texturally different soils. The results showed that the application of biochar substrates alone increased soil moisture, the volume of capillary pores, and decreased aeration and volume of non-capillary pores. The application of biochar substrates with mineral fertilisers increased aeration, content of water-stable macro-aggregates (WSAma), total porosity, and decreased soil moisture and the content of water-stable micro-aggregates (WSAmi) in sandy soil. In loamy soil, when compared to unfertilised control, the biochar treatments increased content of WSAma, content of dry-sieved macro-aggregates, and decreased content of WSAmi and content of dry-sieved micro-aggregates. The combination of biochar substrates together with manure had no effect on changes in the physical properties of loamy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a lot of studies focused on the effects of biochar application to agricultural soils and its influence on the soil properties. However, only limited information is available on the simultaneous impact of N-fertilizer combined with biochar to soil physical propersies such as: soil moisture, soil temperature, bulk density and water-filled pore space. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the soil physical properties of a silty loam Haplic Luvisol affected by the biochar application and its combination with N fertilizer during the years 2014-2016 (Experimental site of SUA-Nitra, Dolná Malanta, Slovakia). The field experiment was carried out in 2014 with different biochar application doses (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1) and different rate of N fertilization (0, 1st and 2nd level of N fertilization). The results showed that the both biochar amendment and biochar with N fertilizer increased the soil moisture in the range of 1 to 15%, on average. The higher rate of biochar resulted in higher soil moisture in all treatments with biochar in the following order B0 (14.9) < B10 (15.1) < B20 (16.2) as well as in biochar in combination with N fertilization: B0N1 (14.6) < B10N1 (15.7) < B20N1 (16.2) as well as B0N2 (14.8) < B10N2 (15.8) < B20N2 (16.0) during the years of 2014-2016. A positive trend of water-filled pore space increase by the time in all studied treatments was observed. No significant changes in the average soil temperature were observed between the biochar and biochar with N fertilization treatments during the growing seasons of individual years. The higher rate of biochar resulted in lower soil bulk density in all treatments with biochar in combination with N fertilization in the following order: B0N1 (1.49) > B10N1 (1.47) > B20N1 (1.44) as well as B0N2 (1.51) > B10N2 (1.47) > B20N2 (1.39) during years the studied period (2014-2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If we want to develop farming on soil effectively and ecologically, we have to know the soil characteristics, the reasons for the potential low fertility and the ways how to eliminate them. Only this approach allows the rational utilization of the soil fund and achievement of the high effectiveness of the costs needed for the stabilization and increase of fertility and land capability. Recently, many scientific teams have focused their attention on the biochar, a lot of recommendations have been published which are dealing with its application into soil. However, the principal attention has been drawn to the impact of biochar on the particular soils and under the particular conditions. Far less information has been presented about the mutual interactions between the further significant agronomical factors in the combination with biochar. In this primary study, we analyze two new experiments established in the southwest part of Slovakia at the 1 Dolná Streda (sandy soil) and 2 Veľké Uľany (loamy soil) Localities. We discussed (1) the impact of the individual factors on the changes of soil characteristics, and (2) the impact of the individual interactions, such as: soil class - fertilization - biochar on the changes of the soil characteristics. The results indicated that the most significant factor, which influences the monitored soil parameters, is the soil class. The fertilization proved to be a factor which has a negative impact on the humus parameters; on the other hand, it improved the soil sorption. Biochar increased the content of the organic substances in soil and also its environmental effect of retention and immobilization of harmful elements and its positive effect on the soil structure was indicated. The highest frequency of the interactions between the monitored parameters related to the changes of soil characteristics was recorded in the combination fertilization x biochar, and also the soil class x fertilization x biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment of different application rates of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer was conducted at the newly established experimental field (spring 2014) on Haplic Luvisol located in Nitra region of Slovakia during the growing season of spring barley. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertilization (1) on the soil organic carbon (SOC) and labile carbon (CL) contents in water-stable macro- (WSAma) and microaggregates (WSAma) and (2) on carbon sequestration in water-stable macro- (CSCma) and micro-aggregates (CSCma). The treatments (3 replicates) consisted of 0, 10 and 20 tha-1 of biochar application (B0, B10 and B20) combined with 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer applied (N0, N40, N80). There was observed significant increase of SOC in WSAma (by 11%) in B20N0 compared to B0N0. The biochar in both rates 10 and 20 t ha-1 together with 40 and 80 kg N ha-1 did not have effects on SOC in WSA. Signifi cant increase of CL in WSAma and CL in WSAma were found only in B20N80 compared with B0N0. Overall, the highest values of CSCma were in the following order B10N80 > B20N0 > B0N0 > B20N40 > B10N0 > B20N80 > B10N40. Overall, the highest average values of CSCma were found in treatments with 10 t ha-1 of biochar combined with 80 kg N ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment of different application rates of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser was conducted at experimental field on a Haplic Luvisol located in Nitra region of Slovakia during the growing season of spring barley (2014). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar and biochar combined with nitrogen fertilisation on the soil organic carbon (SOC). The treatments consisted of 0, 10 and 20 t/ha of biochar application (B0, B10 and B20) combined with 0, 40 and 80 kg/ha N of nitrogen fertiliser applied (N0, N40 and N80). The results showed that SOC content at the beginning and end of the trial was always higher at the plots amended with biochar as compared to control plots (B0N0, B0N40 and B0N80); however, statistically significant effects were observed only at the beginning of the trial as well as at the end of trial in B20N40 treatments. Overall, the highest values of SOC contents were obtained at the beginning as well as at the end of the trial when 10 and 20 t/ha of biochar was applied together with 40 kg/ha N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding nutrient management is essential to ensure healthy and adequate food production, especially in the context of biochar applied to soil with different soil textures. Additionally, farmers are beginning to understand the importance of nutrient management and there are still several knowledge gaps in this area. Several studies on biochar showed its positive effects, especially in sandy and nutrient-poor soils. There is still a lack of information on the impact of biochar on nutrient regimes in texturally different soils with sufficient nutrient supply and favorable soil chemistry. This study investigates the effect of two biochar substrates (a) biochar blended with farmyard manure (BS1), and (b) biochar blended with farmyard manure and digestate (BS2) applied at rates of 10 and 20 t ha−1 alone or in combination with fertilization on the changes in sorption capacity and nutrient regime of two texturally different soils: (a) sandy Arenosol, and (b) loamy Chernozem, (both in western Slovakia) which have a favorable nutrient content. The results showed that in sandy soil, the BS2 at rate of 20 t ha−1 increased the sum of basic cations (by +112%) and CEC (by +93%) compared to the control. In sandy soil, the content of total P increased by +35 and +16% in BS1 20 t ha–1 and BS2 20 t ha−1, respectively, when compared to the unfertilized control. The content of total P increased by +18% in BS1 20 t ha−1 after fertilization compared to the fertilized control. In loamy soil, the content of total P increased significantly by +53 and +14% in unfertilized treatment BS2 20 t ha−1 and fertilized treatment with BS1 at 20 t ha−1 compared to the respective controls. Available Ca increased in sandy soil by +50 and +53% in fertilized treatments with BS2 at 20 t ha−1 and BS1 at 20 t ha−1, respectively, when compared to fertilized control. In loamy soil, available Mg increased by +13% in fertilized treatment with BS1 applied at 20 t ha−1. In conclusion, BS application at a dose of 20 t ha−1 had a stronger positive effect on soil sorption parameters in sandy soil than the application dose of 10 t ha−1. The same BS application rate significantly increased total P in both soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have reported that biochar can improve soil properties which are linked with higher crop yields and this effect is long-term. This paper aimed to study the effects of biochar (0, 10 and 20 t ha−1) and its combinations with N-fertilization (zero, first and second level of N-fertilization) after 3 and 4 years of its application on improving soil characteristics of loamy Haplic Luvisol and crop yields (Dolná Malanta, Slovakia). The results indicated an increase in soil pH (+7%), improvement in sorption properties (hydrolytic acidity decreased by 11%, sum of basic cations and base saturation increased by 20% and 5%, respectively) and soil organic carbon rose by 27% with increasing biochar rate in the soil. N-fertilization applied to biochar treatments was a stabilizing moment in C sequestration even in the case of its labile forms. Overall, humus stability and quality were not significantly changed, however in biochar treatments without N-fertilization, the humus stability and quality decreased 3 and 4 years after biochar application. Yield parameters differed with relation to climate conditions during both vegetation crop seasons, however the combination of 20 t ha−1 of biochar with the first and second level of N-fertilization had the highest potential to increase the grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]