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Research on soil biochar fertilization has mainly been conducted on cereal crops, and information on its potential for radish production remains inconsistent. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the short-term effects of rice husk biochar on radish growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). An investigation was conducted with two application rates of biochar alone, (10 t ha−1 (B10) and 25 t ha−1 (B25), and biochar + chicken manure application with and without NPK fertilizer. The results indicated that the application of biochar 25 t ha−1 + chicken manure (B25:CHM) and the combination of biochar 25 t ha−1 + chicken manure + NPK fertilizer (B25:CHM:NPK) significantly increased root yield by improving NUE, fertilizer recovery efficiency (REN), agronomic efficiency (AE), nitrogen harvest index (NHI), and retaining soil NH4+-N. Although biochar application alone did not significantly influence radish growth on a short-term basis, B10 and B25 increased root yields by 10% and 20%, respectively, compared with the control. Notably, the role of biochar application when combined with organic and inorganic fertilizers was to retain fertilizer N and promote N uptake efficiency by radishes, as higher rates of biochar resulted in higher NUE. Our results suggest that B25:CHM is a suitable combination for organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is stable in soil and can have long-term effects on its physicochemical properties. Hence, a pot experiment was conducted with medium-fertility (MF) and low-fertility (LF) soils after 1 year of rice husk biochar and organic fertilizer application to determine biochar's residual effects on soil chemical properties, grain yield, and greenhouse gas emissions. In previous years, biochar alone (at application rates of 5 and 10 t ha−1) and biochar combined with chicken manure (CHM) or cow manure (at application rate of 5 t ha−1) were applied to the soil. In the present year, the soils were fertilized with only chemical fertilizers. Results indicated that application of 10 t ha−1 biochar combined with 5 t ha−1 CHM (B10:CHM) produced the highest grain yield and total global warming potential (GWPtotal) in both soils. Regarding grain yield, non-significant results were detected for B10:CHM, B5:CHM, and B10. This study revealed that biochar retains nutrients without annual reapplication and has long-term effects. Although biochar application can suppress N2O emissions effectively, the combined application of biochar 10 t ha−1 and organic manure significantly increased CH4 emissions. Overall, B5:CHM can be recommended for rice cultivation since it improves grain yield without increasing GWPtotal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of biochar is considered an alternative amendment strategy for improving soil fertility. In this study, we performed pot experiments using soils of low and medium fertility to assess the effects of different combinations of biochar and organic manure on the chemical properties of paddy rice soils and determined the best combination to improve the grain yield without increasing N2O and CH4 emissions. The applied treatments were without biochar (control), the application of rice husk biochar alone (5 and 10 t ha−1), and biochar combined with chicken or cow manure. The results indicated that for both soils, the application of 5 t ha−1 biochar combined with 5 t ha−1 chicken manure increased grain yield by improving soil total nitrogen and soil NH4+-N without increasing cumulative N2O and CH4 emissions. Multiple regression analysis showed that when combined with biochar, chicken manure significantly contributed to a higher grain yield and was negatively associated with cumulative CH4, N2O emissions, and total GWP. Furthermore, regardless of soil type, combined applications of biochar and cow manure promoted significant increases in soil available P. Our findings indicate that the C/N ratio of organic manure influences CH4 fluxes, and soil type was identified as a factor driving greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large linearly graded structure on atomic scale up to 88 at. %/mm with oriented grown crystals was formed in selenium-tellurium (Se-Te) semiconductor using a strong gravitational field of one million G level at 260 °C. The lattice constants and the binding energies of Se and Te 3d electrons continuously changed along the direction of gravity accordingly, which indicated the formation of the graded band gap structure. The grown crystals showed the crystalline orientation with the c axis of hexagonal structure roughly perpendicular to the direction of gravity. It was found that the diffusion coefficient of sedimentation was larger than that of normal diffusion by more than 100 times, which suggested a different diffusion mechanism from the normal vacancy mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of atomic-scale graded structure in selenium-tellurium semiconductor is studied by using a strong gravitational field. The observed crystals growth along the c axes of the hexagonal structure perpendicular to the direction of gravity and diffusion coefficient of sedimentation more than 100 indicate the existence of a different diffusion mechanism.

Agricultural fields, including rice (Oryza sativaL.) paddy fields, constitute one of the major sources of atmospheric methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Organic matter application, such as straw and organic fertilizer, enhances CH4emission from paddy fields. In addition, rice straw management after harvest regulates CH4emissions in the growing season. The interaction of tillage times and organic fertilizer application on CH4and N2O emissions is largely unknown. Therefore, we studied the effects of fallow-season tillage times and fertilizer types on CH4and N2O emissions in paddy fields in Ehime, southwestern Japan. From November 2011 to October 2013, four treatments, two (autumn and spring) or one (spring) in the first year, or two (autumn and spring) or three (autumn, winter, and spring) in the second year times of tillage with chemical or organic fertilizer application, were established. Gas fluxes were measured by the closed-chamber method. Increasing the number of tillage times from one to two decreased succeeding CH4emission and the emission factor for CH4(EFCH4) in the rice-growing season, suggesting that the substrate for CH4production was reduced by autumn and spring tillage in the fallow season. Higher EFCH4[1.8–2.0 kg carbon (C) ha−1d−1] was observed when more straw was applied (6.9–7.2 Mg ha−1) in the second year. Organic fertilizer application induced higher CH4emission just after the application as basal and supplemental fertilizers, especially at a lower straw application rate. This indicated that EFCH4in the organically managed fields should be determined individually. Organic fertilizer application with two tillage times induced N2O efflux during the rice-growing season in the second year, but N2O emissions were not affected by winter tillage. Although paddy fields can act as an N2O sink because of reduced soil conditions when straw application was high, application of organic C and nitrogen as fertilizer can enhance N2O production by the denitrification process during the growing season, especially in the ripening stage when soil anaerobic conditions became moderate. These results suggest that negative emission factors for N2O (EFN2O) can be applied, and EFN2Oof organic fertilizer should be considered during the estimation of N2O emission in the paddy field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]