The importance of blending biochar into manure prior to its application as a soil amendment was investigated by this laboratory and field study, hypothesizing an (i) increase in soil fertility; (ii) improvement in microbial activity; (iii) reduction in manure-induced CO₂ emissions after combining amendments. Biochar was mixed with manure (50:50 V/V) and aged in field conditions for 6 months whereafter pristine biochar, manure, and manured biochar (50:50 V/V) were incorporated into an agricultural drought-prone Regosol. All treatments and soil mixtures were incubated, with laboratory measurements of CO₂ emissions taken using a coupled column respirometer set up, while nutrient availabilities as well as enzymatic activities were also tested. Demonstrable benefits of the biochar when blended to manure were exemplified in reduced CO₂ emissions, by 60% compared with manure alone, and improved C and N acquisition by microorganisms. When applied to soil, blended biochar manure did not enhance CO₂ emissions, but did significantly improve soil fertility by the avoidance of leaching of non-plant consumed nutrients from the soil (e.g. NO₃⁻ by 58%). A significant increase in functional diversity indices in the presence of manured biochar highlights the added value of the blended approach. Field application yielded reduced effects; manure induced a higher carbon and nitrogen mineralization (thus potentially higher C and N emissions via CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) as well as a higher microbial functional diversity. Further studies should verify the effects observed here in a range of soil types and climates.

中文翻译：

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将生物炭和粪便混合添加到农业土壤中有益于肥力、微生物活性，并减少粪便引起的二氧化碳排放

本实验室和实地研究调查了在将生物炭用作土壤改良剂之前将其与粪便混合的重要性，假设 (i) 提高土壤肥力；(ii) 微生物活性的改善；(iii) 合并修正后粪便引起的CO ₂排放量减少。将生物炭与粪肥 (50:50 V/V) 混合，并在田间条件下陈化 6 个月，然后将原始生物炭、粪肥和粪肥生物炭 (50:50 V/V) 掺入农业易干旱的 Regosol 中。所有处理和土壤混合物都经过培养，实验室测量CO ₂排放量，使用设置的耦合柱呼吸计进行测量，同时还测试了养分有效性和酶活性。生物炭与粪肥混合时的明显好处是，与单独粪肥相比， CO _{2排放量减少了 60%，并改善了微生物对 C 和 N 的吸收。}当施用于土壤时，混合生物炭肥料不会增加CO ₂排放，但通过避免非植物消耗的养分从土壤中沥滤而显着提高了土壤肥力（例如NO ₃ ^-提高了58%）。在施肥生物炭存在的情况下，功能多样性指数显着增加，凸显了混合方法的附加值。现场施用效果减弱；粪便诱导了更高的碳和氮矿化（因此可能通过CO ₂、CH ₄和N ₂ O 排放更高的C 和N）以及更高的微生物功能多样性。进一步的研究应该验证在一系列土壤类型和气候中观察到的影响。