Combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer improves rice yield, microbial activity and N-metabolism in a pot experiment

The excessive use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers in rice ( Oryza sativa L.) has resulted in high N loss, soil degradation, and environmental pollution in a changing climate. Soil biochar amendment is proposed as a climate change mitigation tool that supports carbon sequestration and reduces N losses and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the soil. The current study evaluated the impact of four different rates of biochar (B) (C/B 0 -0 t ha −1 , B 1 -20 t ha −1 , B 2 -40 t ha −1 , and B 3 -60 t ha −1 ) and two N levels (N 1 ; low (270 kg N ha −1 ) and N 2 ; high (360 kg N ha −1 )), on rice (cultivar Zhenguiai) grown in pots. Significant increases in the average soil microbial biomass N (SMBN) (88%) and carbon (87%) were recorded at the highest rate of 60-ton ha −1 B and 360 kg N ha −1 compared to the control (N 1 C) during both seasons (S1 and S2). The photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), quantum yield of the photosystem (PS) II (ΦPS II), electron transport rate (ETR), and photochemical quenching ( qP ) were enhanced at low rates of biochar applications (20 to 40 t B ha −1 ) for high and low N rates across the seasons. Nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) activity were, on average, 39%, 55%, and 63% higher in the N 1 B 3 , N 2 B 2 , and N 2 B 3 treatments, respectively than the N 1 C. The grain quality was higher in the N1B 3 treatment than the N 1 C, i.e., the protein content (PC), amylose content (AC), percent brown rice (BRP), and percent milled rice (MRP) were, on average, 16%, 28%, 4.6%, and 5% higher, respectively in both seasons. The results of this study indicated that biochar addition to the soil in combination with N fertilizers increased the dry matter (DM) content, N uptake, and grain yield of rice by 24%, 27%, and 64%, respectively, compared to the N 1 C.