Effect of co-composted biochar on nitrogen availability to spinach

Co-composted biochar is suspected to be an effective sorbent for nitrate and thus might reduce nitrate leaching from agricultural soils. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown now and the effect on nitrogen availability is under discussion. In the current study, a pot trial with spinach was conducted to evaluate the influence of two co-composted biochars on nitrogen availability. Two wood-based biochars were co-composted with grass clippings and woody scrap material from landscaping activities. Additionally, a compost without biochar was prepared. Composts were mixed to an arable soil at rates of 30, 60 and 120 t ha^-1 and nitrate was applied on basis of 100 kg N per hectare. Afterwards, mixtures were filled in balcony boxes, moisturized and placed in a greenhouse for 40 days. As control the soil without compost was treated in the same way. Furthermore, additional treatments without and with the highest application rate, but without nitrogen fertilization, were prepared. After the 40 days these balcony boxes were also fertilized with 100 kg ha^-1 of nitrogen and spinach – pre-cultivated in press pots – was planted in all balcony boxes.

Irrespectively of application rates and – in case of the highest application rate – of date of nitrogen fertilization, no negative effect of co-composted biochar on N uptake was observed. In addition, the nitrogen balance for treatments with co-composted biochar was not significantly different from the control. However, for treatments with compost without biochar an increasing balance shortfall with increasing amounts of compost was observed. This might due to a nitrogen immobilization of woody residues. In view of the fact, that N uptake by plants was comparable and significant amounts of easily extractable nitrate were found in the soil at the end of the experiment, we assume that the co-composted biochars used in this experiment had no adsorption capacity for nitrate.