Purpose In multi-crop organic vegetable production within a year, the traditional cultivation mode generally suffers low yields and inefficient nitrogen use efficiency of organic manure. This study explores the effects of combining biochar with organic manure on fertilizer conservation and yield increase in organic vegetable fields. The aim is to establish an optimized nitrogen management system for organic farmland, thereby simultaneously achieving increases in vegetable yields and the nitrogen utilization efficiency of cow manure. Materials and methods Herein, field experiments were conducted to assess the effects of four treatments on mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3–-N), Chinese Flowering Cabbage (CFF) yield, and fertilizer use efficiency in organic vegetable fields. Four treatments were: no fertilizer application (CK), 8.5 t ha–1 biochar (B), 110 t ha–1 organic fertilizer (OF), and 110 t ha–1 organic fertilizer combined with 8.5 t ha–1 biochar (OF + B). Results and discussion The organic fertilizer combined with biochar could significantly improve the microbial biomass carbon (C), microbial biomass N and the ratio between N and C in organic vegetables fields and increase mineral N content of soil under 0–20 cm depth. Compared with OF, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, and the C/N ratio under OF + B increased by 36.7%, 23.3%, and 11.0%, respectively (P < 0.05), and the average NO3–-N content in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 29.7% (P < 0.05). Compared with the OF, B, and CK treatments, OF + B treatment significantly promoted CFF growth and increased yield. The biomass and yield of CFF under OF + B were the highest, increasing by 32.3% and 59.1%, respectively (P < 0.05), compared with OF. Biochar-fertilized organic vegetable field enhanced CFF absorption of N and increased organic N fertilizer use efficiency. Annual total N uptake increased by 55.0%–699.3% (P < 0.05) compared with OF, B, and CK, while agronomic efficiency and N recovery efficiency of organic N fertilizer increased by 61.2% and 40.9%, respectively (P < 0.05), compared with OF. Conclusions Biochar-organic fertilizer integration enhances soil nitrate-N availability, drives yield gains, and improves N-use efficiency in multi-crop organic systems. This strategy offers a viable solution for sustainable high-yield vegetable cultivation.

Biochar enhances yield and nitrogen utilization from organic fertilizers in the organic cultivation of Chinese flowering cabbage in Northwestern China

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年11月21日

查看全文

Zhan Wang,
Jiao Yang,
Yinkun Li,
Kai Li,
Yong Wang

摘要

Purpose

In multi-crop organic vegetable production within a year, the traditional cultivation mode generally suffers low yields and inefficient nitrogen use efficiency of organic manure. This study explores the effects of combining biochar with organic manure on fertilizer conservation and yield increase in organic vegetable fields. The aim is to establish an optimized nitrogen management system for organic farmland, thereby simultaneously achieving increases in vegetable yields and the nitrogen utilization efficiency of cow manure.

Materials and methods

Herein, field experiments were conducted to assess the effects of four treatments on mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N), Chinese Flowering Cabbage (CFF) yield, and fertilizer use efficiency in organic vegetable fields. Four treatments were: no fertilizer application (CK), 8.5 t ha^–1 biochar (B), 110 t ha^–1 organic fertilizer (OF), and 110 t ha^–1 organic fertilizer combined with 8.5 t ha^–1 biochar (OF + B).

Results and discussion

The organic fertilizer combined with biochar could significantly improve the microbial biomass carbon (C), microbial biomass N and the ratio between N and C in organic vegetables fields and increase mineral N content of soil under 0–20 cm depth. Compared with OF, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, and the C/N ratio under OF + B increased by 36.7%, 23.3%, and 11.0%, respectively (P < 0.05), and the average NO₃^–-N content in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 29.7% (P < 0.05). Compared with the OF, B, and CK treatments, OF + B treatment significantly promoted CFF growth and increased yield. The biomass and yield of CFF under OF + B were the highest, increasing by 32.3% and 59.1%, respectively (P < 0.05), compared with OF. Biochar-fertilized organic vegetable field enhanced CFF absorption of N and increased organic N fertilizer use efficiency. Annual total N uptake increased by 55.0%–699.3% (P < 0.05) compared with OF, B, and CK, while agronomic efficiency and N recovery efficiency of organic N fertilizer increased by 61.2% and 40.9%, respectively (P < 0.05), compared with OF.

Conclusions

Biochar-organic fertilizer integration enhances soil nitrate-N availability, drives yield gains, and improves N-use efficiency in multi-crop organic systems. This strategy offers a viable solution for sustainable high-yield vegetable cultivation.