Effect of the Application of Biochar on Selected Soil Chemical Properties, Corn Grain, and Biomass Yields in Iowa

Abstract

Biochar is a co-product of pyrolysis. To find the effects of biochar on crop production, a field study was conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. The main plot treatments were biochar at rates of 0, 4.5, 18 Mg ha−1. Sub-plot treatments were nitrogen (N) rates of 0, 56, 112, 224 kg N ha−1 as urea (46–0–0). These treatments were applied to a continuous corn cropping system. Soil samples were planned to be taken during the first eight weeks of the growing season and after harvest to measure ammonium–N (NH4 +–N) and nitrate–N (NO3 −–N). Nitrogen in the plant and grain was measured along with grain yield and plant biomass. There was no difference in the yield due to the addition of biochar or the interaction of biochar and N fertilizer, but there were differences due to the N fertilizer alone.