Adding biochar to wheat fields at 10–20 tonnes per hectare, combined with a modest 10% reduction in irrigation water, boosted soil carbon and nitrogen storage while maintaining or improving grain yields over two growing seasons in northwestern China.
1
The best-performing treatment (20 t/ha biochar + moderate irrigation) increased soil organic carbon by 23.33% and total nitrogen by 22.46% compared to no-biochar controls.
2
More than 40% of soil nitrogen concentrated in medium-sized soil aggregates (0.25–2 mm) by the second year, with biochar being the key driver of this distribution.
3
The optimal strategy — 10–20 t/ha biochar with 4050 m³/ha irrigation (a 10% reduction from full irrigation) — improved wheat grain yield while cutting water use.
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