Effects of Biochar Application on Soil Physical Properties, Nutrients and Nitrification in Latosol

Nitrification process, an important link of N transformation, is restricted by the soil properties. Biochar can significantly change the soil characteristics which are closely related to the nitrification, so application of biochar to soil will influence the nitrification process. Incubation experiments were arranged to study the effects of biochar applicaiton on soil properties and nitrification process in latosol. The incubation experiment involved with 4 treatments of two levels of soil water content (75% of field capacity and waterlogging) and two levels of biochar (application and zero). The results showed that the biochar significantly increased soil pH, organic carbon content and the available content of N, P and K. The effects of soil moisture could change the influence of biochar on soil characteristics. Flooding was more conducive to increase value of pH, but significantly reduced the content of available P. Addition of biocar to soil accelerated the nitrification rate and most NH4+ was nitrified to NO3-. Soil moisture should be adjusted to the soil improvement goals to prevent nitrate leaching risk and the possibility of ammonia volatilization, when biochar was used for modifying latosol