ABSTRACT Background Nitrogen (N) losses in low‐fertility alkaline soils substantially reduce nitrogen use efficiency and limit wheat productivity. Although biochar has been widely studied as a nutrient‐retentive soil amendment; however, its potential to assist fertilizer reduction under alkaline soil conditions remains insufficiently understood. Aim This study evaluated the effectiveness of integrating biochar with urea to regulate soil N transformations and enhance wheat productivity in alkaline soil. Method A 1‐month laboratory incubation study was conducted in soil amended with biochar at 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/w) and urea at the recommended rate of 150 kg N ha −1 (0.0144 g urea jar −1 ). In a complementary pot experiment, wheat was grown in alkaline soil amended with 1% biochar combined with urea applied at 100%, 85%, and 70% of the recommended rate (0.87, 0.74, and 0.60 g urea pot −1 ), respectively. Results Results showed that 3% biochar was the most effective rate in the laboratory incubation, significantly lowering NH 4 + ‐N concentration and delaying its nitrification to NO 3 – ‐N; however, on the basis of the practical applicability, 1% biochar was selected for the pot experiment. Results for pot experiment revealed that wheat plants receiving 85% of the recommended urea with 1% biochar displayed improved agronomic attributes and produced higher grain yield (15.5 g pot −1 ) and total N in roots, shoots, and grain than plants supplied with 100% urea alone. Conclusion Overall, the results demonstrate that low biochar application rate (1%) can partially substitute for mineral N fertilizer by regulating urea‐derived N dynamics and improving wheat performance in alkaline soil.
Mumtaz et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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