[Effects of biochar amendment on cropland soil bulk density, cation exchange capacity, and particulate organic matter...

A 3-year field experiment with randomized block design was conducted to study the effects of biochar amendment on the soil bulk density, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and particulate organic matter C (POM-C) and N (POM-N) contents in a high-yielding cropland in the North China Plain. Four treatments were installed, i.e., chemical NPK (CK), chemical NPK plus 2250 kg x hm(-2) of biochar (C1), chemical NPK plus 4500 kg x hm(-2) of biochar (C2), and 750 kg x hm(-2) of biochar-based slow release fertilizer (CN). Comparing with CK, treatments C1 and C2 significantly decreased the bulk density of 0-7.5 cm soil layer by 4.5% and 6.0%, respectively, and the treatments with biochar amendment increased the CEC in 0-15 cm soil layer, with an increment of 24.5% in treatment C2. Biochar amendment also increased the C (POM-C) and N (POM-N) contents in 0-7.5 cm soil layer, e.g., the POM-C and N contents in treatment C1 and C2 were 250% and 85%, and 260% and 120% higher than those of the CK, respectively. After three years of biochar amendment, the soil had obvious improvement in its physical and chemical properties, and played more active roles in soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gases emission reduction.