IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i3p239-d1574065.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Promote Alfalfa Yield by Regulating Root Development, Osmoregulatory Substances and Improve Soil Physicochemical Properties

Author

Listed:
  • Jinlong Chai

    (College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land Conservation Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Gansu Yasheng Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730010, China)

  • Hang Yang

    (College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Zhen Chen

    (Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land Conservation Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Gansu Yasheng Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730010, China)

  • Weifang Li

    (Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land Conservation Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Gansu Yasheng Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730010, China)

  • Dongqing Li

    (Key Laboratory of Cultivated Land Conservation Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Gansu Yasheng Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730010, China)

  • Xiaojun Yu

    (College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

Abstract

In artificial grassland systems, the extensive use of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers has greatly enhanced grassland yields but also caused significant environmental issues. The combined use of biochar and N fertilizer is recognized as an effective and sustainable approach to reducing environmental risks while boosting crop production. However, the specific impacts of biochar and N on alfalfa yield, soil properties, and root morphology remain unclear. This study examined the effects of three biochar application rates (0, 10, 20 t hm −2 ) and four N application levels (0, 47, 94, 188 kg N hm −2 yr −1 ) on alfalfa growth and soil characteristics. Results revealed that biochar notably promoted root development and increased osmoregulatory substance content. It enhanced root biomass by improving root nodule count, root neck bud formation, and root neck diameter, while N application reduced root nodule numbers. Biochar and N application reduced soil bulk density by 0.8–10.5%, with biochar further increasing available phosphorus and potassium levels. Additionally, their combined use significantly elevated soil nitrate and ammonium concentrations. Overall, the synergy of biochar and nitrogen application enhances alfalfa yield by fostering better root growth and improving soil fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinlong Chai & Hang Yang & Zhen Chen & Weifang Li & Dongqing Li & Xiaojun Yu, 2025. "Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Promote Alfalfa Yield by Regulating Root Development, Osmoregulatory Substances and Improve Soil Physicochemical Properties," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:239-:d:1574065
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/3/239/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/3/239/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Minguo & Wang, Zikui & Mu, Le & Xu, Rui & Yang, Huimin, 2021. "Effect of regulated deficit irrigation on alfalfa performance under two irrigation systems in the inland arid area of midwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    2. Zhang, Junxiao & Liu, Xiaowei & Wu, Qi & Qiu, Yuanze & Chi, Daocai & Xia, Guimin & Arthur, Emmanuel, 2023. "Mulched drip irrigation and maize straw biochar increase peanut yield by regulating soil nitrogen, photosynthesis and root in arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. You, Yongliang & Song, Ping & Yang, Xianlong & Zheng, Yapeng & Dong, Li & Chen, Jing, 2022. "Optimizing irrigation for winter wheat to maximize yield and maintain high-efficient water use in a semi-arid environment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    2. Kamran, Muhammad & Yan, Zhengang & Chang, Shenghua & Ning, Jiao & Lou, Shanning & Ahmad, Irshad & Ghani, Muhammad Usman & Arif, Muhammad & El Sabagh, Ayman & Hou, Fujiang, 2023. "Interactive effects of reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on resource use efficiency, forage nutritive quality, yield, and economic benefits of spring wheat in the arid region of Northwest ," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    3. Liu, Minguo & Wu, Xiaojuan & Yang, Huimin, 2022. "Evapotranspiration characteristics and soil water balance of alfalfa grasslands under regulated deficit irrigation in the inland arid area of Midwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Li, Maona & Zhang, Yunlong & Ma, Chizhen & Sun, Hongren & Ren, Wei & Wang, Xianguo, 2023. "Maximizing the water productivity and economic returns of alfalfa by deficit irrigation in China: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    5. Wu, Wanping & Liu, Minguo & Wu, Xiaojuan & Wang, Zikui & Yang, Huimin, 2022. "Effects of deficit irrigation on nitrogen uptake and soil mineral nitrogen in alfalfa grasslands of the inland arid area of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    6. Xiangzhu Wang & Man Wu & Chengbin Sun & Miao Liu & Liyu Yang & Haiyan Liang & Qi Wu & Pu Shen, 2024. "Biochar distribution mode in soil affects the vegetative peanut growth, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-fixing bacteria activity," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(12), pages 783-798.
    7. Minhua, Yin & Yanlin, Ma & Yanxia, Kang & Qiong, Jia & Guangping, Qi & Jinghai, Wang & Changkun, Yang & Jianxiong, Yu, 2022. "Optimized farmland mulching improves alfalfa yield and water use efficiency based on meta-analysis and regression analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    8. Zhang, Haowen & Liang, Qing & Peng, Zhengping & Zhao, Yi & Tan, Yuechen & Zhang, Xin & Bol, Roland, 2023. "Response of greenhouse gases emissions and yields to irrigation and straw practices in wheat-maize cropping system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    9. Tong, Xuanyue & Wu, Pute & Liu, Xufei & Zhang, Lin & Zhou, Wei & Wang, Zhaoguo, 2022. "A global meta-analysis of fruit tree yield and water use efficiency under deficit irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    10. repec:caa:jnlpse:v:preprint:id:228-2024-pse is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Chenli Hou & Xianyue Li & Delong Tian & Bing Xu & Chen Zhang & Jie Ren & Ning Chen, 2022. "Evaluation of the Effects of Water and Salinity Stress on the Growth and Biochemistry of Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) at the Branching Stage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    12. Leonard M. Lauriault & Murali K. Darapuneni & Koffi Djaman & Mark A. Marsalis, 2025. "Winter and Season-Only Irrigation with Late Summer Irrigation Termination Influences Alfalfa Dry Matter Yield and Applied Water Use Efficiency," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:239-:d:1574065. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.