Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield

Abstract The enhancement of saline soil yield potential by biochar was well-documented, but the changes brought by biochar particle size on soil properties and crop performance are not well understood. To investigate the changes in soil properties and tomato yield due to biochar particle size under...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhuqing Wu, Yaqiong Fan, Zhengquan Zhou, Xinmei Hao, Shaozhong Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-02-01
Series:Biochar
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00417-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823861699498737664
author Zhuqing Wu
Yaqiong Fan
Zhengquan Zhou
Xinmei Hao
Shaozhong Kang
author_facet Zhuqing Wu
Yaqiong Fan
Zhengquan Zhou
Xinmei Hao
Shaozhong Kang
author_sort Zhuqing Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The enhancement of saline soil yield potential by biochar was well-documented, but the changes brought by biochar particle size on soil properties and crop performance are not well understood. To investigate the changes in soil properties and tomato yield due to biochar particle size under varying salt stress, we conducted a pot experiment in China Northwest’s solar greenhouse. A total of nine treatments were applied, with three different salt amounts of [S0 (no salt), S1 (0.3% dry weight), and S2 (0.6% dry weight)], and three biochar treatments of B0, B1, and B2 (0, 0.5% of large particles and 0.5% of small particles). Adding biochar did not significantly affect the measured soil chemical properties, except for pH, total nitrogen (TN), and Ca2+. Specifically, the addition of biochar significantly increased soil pH and TN, while reduced soil Ca2⁺ content likely due to biochar selective adsorption of Ca2⁺. Biochar particle size had opposite effects on tomato yield under varying salt stress levels. Compared to S0, the yield under B1 was 19.1% and 36.5% higher, whereas under B2, the yield was 33.1% and 44.2% lower for S1 and S2, respectively. Under no salt stress, small-size biochar increased yield by 51.0% compared to B0, largely due to the improved soil water and nutrient status. These results are of great value for developing better strategies for adding biochar with appropriate properties into saline soils to achieve greater productivity gains. Highlights Biochar addition significantly reduced soil Ca2+ by 16.7–37.9%, while there was no significant difference in the other cations. Large-size biochar alleviated salt stress and improved tomato yield by promoting salt leaching and enhancing soil nutrients. Small particle size biochar exacerbated salinity stress and reduced tomato yield under higher salinity treatments. Small particle size biochar boosted tomato yield in soils without salinity stress. Graphical Abstract
format Article
id doaj-art-11bd3a6d6c94450b9054220c6499b33f
institution Kabale University
issn 2524-7867
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Biochar
spelling doaj-art-11bd3a6d6c94450b9054220c6499b33f2025-02-09T12:48:52ZengSpringerBiochar2524-78672025-02-017111510.1007/s42773-024-00417-zInteraction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yieldZhuqing Wu0Yaqiong Fan1Zhengquan Zhou2Xinmei Hao3Shaozhong Kang4Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Water Resources Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of TechnologyCenter for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural UniversityCenter for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural UniversityCenter for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract The enhancement of saline soil yield potential by biochar was well-documented, but the changes brought by biochar particle size on soil properties and crop performance are not well understood. To investigate the changes in soil properties and tomato yield due to biochar particle size under varying salt stress, we conducted a pot experiment in China Northwest’s solar greenhouse. A total of nine treatments were applied, with three different salt amounts of [S0 (no salt), S1 (0.3% dry weight), and S2 (0.6% dry weight)], and three biochar treatments of B0, B1, and B2 (0, 0.5% of large particles and 0.5% of small particles). Adding biochar did not significantly affect the measured soil chemical properties, except for pH, total nitrogen (TN), and Ca2+. Specifically, the addition of biochar significantly increased soil pH and TN, while reduced soil Ca2⁺ content likely due to biochar selective adsorption of Ca2⁺. Biochar particle size had opposite effects on tomato yield under varying salt stress levels. Compared to S0, the yield under B1 was 19.1% and 36.5% higher, whereas under B2, the yield was 33.1% and 44.2% lower for S1 and S2, respectively. Under no salt stress, small-size biochar increased yield by 51.0% compared to B0, largely due to the improved soil water and nutrient status. These results are of great value for developing better strategies for adding biochar with appropriate properties into saline soils to achieve greater productivity gains. Highlights Biochar addition significantly reduced soil Ca2+ by 16.7–37.9%, while there was no significant difference in the other cations. Large-size biochar alleviated salt stress and improved tomato yield by promoting salt leaching and enhancing soil nutrients. Small particle size biochar exacerbated salinity stress and reduced tomato yield under higher salinity treatments. Small particle size biochar boosted tomato yield in soils without salinity stress. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00417-zBiocharParticleTomatoYieldSoil physicochemical
spellingShingle Zhuqing Wu
Yaqiong Fan
Zhengquan Zhou
Xinmei Hao
Shaozhong Kang
Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
Biochar
Biochar
Particle
Tomato
Yield
Soil physicochemical
title Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
title_full Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
title_fullStr Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
title_full_unstemmed Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
title_short Interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
title_sort interaction between biochar particle size and soil salinity levels on soil properties and tomato yield
topic Biochar
Particle
Tomato
Yield
Soil physicochemical
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00417-z
work_keys_str_mv AT zhuqingwu interactionbetweenbiocharparticlesizeandsoilsalinitylevelsonsoilpropertiesandtomatoyield
AT yaqiongfan interactionbetweenbiocharparticlesizeandsoilsalinitylevelsonsoilpropertiesandtomatoyield
AT zhengquanzhou interactionbetweenbiocharparticlesizeandsoilsalinitylevelsonsoilpropertiesandtomatoyield
AT xinmeihao interactionbetweenbiocharparticlesizeandsoilsalinitylevelsonsoilpropertiesandtomatoyield
AT shaozhongkang interactionbetweenbiocharparticlesizeandsoilsalinitylevelsonsoilpropertiesandtomatoyield