Biochar Exacerbates Nitrogen Loss in Drought-Affected Soil with Green Manure Application

Abstract

The impact of biochar on N conversion in drought-affected soil with green manure application has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, this study examined the effects of biochar produced at 350 °C, 550 °C, and 750 °C (BC350, BC550, and BC750) on green manure (Medicago sativa L.) decomposition and N turnover in soil (Hapli-Udic Ferralosol) during a 60-day laboratory incubation experiment under different moisture conditions (45% or 65% soil water-holding capacity (WHC)). Due to low-temperature biochar (BC350) possessing hydrophilicity (thereby enhancing water retention) due to its surface oxygen-containing functional groups, while high-temperature biochar (BC750) relies on the aromatic conjugated π-electron system for electron transfer, both BC350 and BC750 promoted green manure decomposition and mineralization. Compared with green manure alone, co-application of BC350 and BC750 with green manure increased soil NH4+–N content by 5.58% and 38.37%, respectively. However, a significant total N loss (>11%) occurred under drought conditions. Partial least squares path modeling was used to elucidate the key driving pathways related to C and N sequestration in drought-affected soil with green manure and biochar co-application. The results indicate that the enhanced soil N loss could be attributed to both the biochar-induced rise in soil pH (>8%) and the drought-driven suppression of stable organic matter (e.g., >20% reduction in humus acid) and macroaggregate formation. This study demonstrates that although biochar addition can promote the decomposition of green manure to release available N, it may also exacerbate total soil N loss. Only under normal moisture conditions can the N released from green manure be converted into humus-associated N.