Biochar impact on soil properties and soil solution nutrient concentrations under cotton production

Authors: SHARMA, RAMANDEEP - Mississippi State University; SINGH, GURBIR - University Of Missouri; JAKHAR, AMRINDER - University Of Georgia; DHILLON, JAGMANDEEP - Mississippi State University; Anapalli, Saseendran; NELSON, KELLY - University Of Georgia; KAUR, GURPREET - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2025
Publication Date: 5/13/2025
Citation: Sharma, R.K., Singh, G., Jakhar, A., Dhillon, J., Anapalli, S.S., Nelson, K.A., Kaur, G. 2025. Biochar impact on soil properties and soil solution nutrient concentrations under cotton production. Journal of Environmental Management. Volume 386, June 2025, 125660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125660.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125660

Interpretive Summary: Exploiting the soil and water resources for long-term crop production with fertilizer and other chemical applications deteriorates soil and water quality, compromising the long-term sustainability of crop production in the humid Mississippi Delta. Biochar is a carbon-rich product derived from organic biomass, including crop or refinery residues, animal manure, nutshells, municipal waste materials, or wood materials obtained by heating them to high temperatures under limited to no oxygen supplies, for use as a soil amendment in crop production systems. It helps build organic carbon and improve soil properties, provides an opportunity to increase nutrient use efficiency, and prevents soil degradation. To investigate and recommend its use as a soil amendment in the Delta, scientists with the USDA ARS, Crop Production Systems Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, collaborated with faculties from Mississippi State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Missouri and initiated a multi-year field experiment in 2019 evaluating the impact of sugarcane bagasse-based biochar on soil and water qualities and carbon sequestration under rainfed upland-cotton production systems at Stoneville, MS. Results obtained from 2019 to 2022 show that biochar applications reduced nutrient leaching to ground and surface waters tremendously during crop and fallow period; as such, has the potential to be an alternative, regenerative soil management strategy for sustainable cotton production in the region. Further investigation is in progress.

Technical Abstract: Intensive tillage and unsustainable agricultural practices adversely impact soil health and the long-term sustainability of crop production in humid subtropics. Biochar, a soil amendment, can be used to improve soil properties and agricultural productivity. A field experiment evaluated the impact of biochar application rates (B) (0, 10, 20, and 40 Mg ha-1) on soil properties and soil solution chemistry under rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems in the Lower Mississippi Delta from 2020 to 2022. An application of 40 Mg ha-1 of biochar significantly reduced bulk density and increased water content in 0-15 cm compared to other rates and depths. Biochar increased aggregate stability compared to the control in the topsoil layer for aggregate fractions of size 0.5-1 mm and 1-2 mm in 2021. Biochar application at 20 and 40 Mg ha-1 reduced NO3-N concentration in soil by 63 and 53%, respectively, compared to the control at a 0-15 cm depth in 2021. Biochar applications reduced NO3--N leaching losses 49 to 87% and 42 to 102% during the fallow period compared to the control at a 46 and 81 cm depth, respectively. Biochar also reduced the PO43--P concentration 14 to 39% compared to the control in the fallow period. Biochar improved soil properties while reducing nutrient leaching and has the potential to be an alternative soil amendment strategy for sustainable cotton production.