Impact of biochar on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in corn grown under drip irrigation with mulching

Biochar is widely used as a soil amendment to challenge climate change through restraining greenhouse gas production and increasing soil C sink in cropland soils, yet its effect was not studied well under drip irrigation with mulch. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of corn residue-derived biochar amendments on greenhouse gases (GHG), soil organic carbon (SOC), and global warming potential (GWP) on sandy loam soil in Inner Mongolia, China. Biochar application rates of 0 (B0, control), 15 (B15), 30 (B30), and 45 (B45) t ha−1 were broadcasted onto the soil surface, and then mixed into 30-cm soil depth at the first crop growing season to a film-mulched and drip-irrigated corn production. Soil emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4 were measured using a closed static chamber approach. Compared to control plots, biochar amendments reduced total CO2 emission by 18–25% at the first growing season, and 19–41% at the second growing season. The highest and lowest CH4 emissions were from B45 and B15 in the first year, and B45 and B30 in the second year, respectively. Relative to the control, B15 and B30 reduced CH4 emission by 124% and 132% as averaged over 2-yr. With biochar amendments, total N2O emission was decreased by 71–110% and 39–47% in the first and second year. Among these biochar amendments, B30 was the best amendment limiting the GWP of N2O and CH4 in any of the two years. B30 and B45 significantly increased SOC sequestration in the top 15-cm depth by 19% and 37% in the first growing season, respectively, and by 12% and 15% in the second growing season. Biochar amendment B30 also significantly increased corn yields. Biochar shows the greatest potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase soil C sequestration. The greatest reductions with biochar application 30 t ha−1 in corn. [Display omitted] •Corn residue-derived biochar applied into corn production reduced CO2 and N2O emissions.•CH4 emission was decreased by 132% when biochar amendment (30 t ha−1) was used.•Biochar amendment (30 t ha−1) increased SOC sequestration in upper 15-cm depth by 16%.•Corn yield increased by 7.4% for biochar addition (30 t h ha−1) over 2-yr.•Biochar application (30 t ha−1) was suitable for corn with drip-irrigation and film mulch.