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Assessment of wheat straw and its biochar effects on carbon sink in agricultural ecosystems using“carbon footprint”method
Received:October 21, 2015  
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KeyWord:wheat straw;wheat straw-derived biochar;carbon footprint;carbon sink
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
CHENG Gong College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, China 
 
ZHANG A-feng College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, China 
zhangafeng@nwsuaf.edu.cn 
WANG Xu-dong College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, China 
wangxudong01@126.com 
ZHANG Wei-hua College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China  
DU Ke-qing College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China  
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Abstract:
      This study assessed the dynamic, distribution and composition of carbon footprints in wheat production process under applications of wheat straw and its biochar using "carbon footprint" method. Crop yields and N2O, CH4 and CO2 fluxes during wheat growth period were measured in five field treatments:control(CK), conventional fertilization(N), N plus 4 t·hm-2 straw(NS) amendment, N plus 4 t·hm-2 biochar(NBClow) amendment, and N plus 8 t·hm-2 biochar(NBChigh) amendment. The energy consumption in each step of wheat production process was also analyzed to calculate the carbon footprint. Results showed that the carbon footprint in wheat production was mainly net primary production and energy consumption related to fertilizer production. Compared with the conventional fertilization, Wheat yields in NS, NBClow and NBChigh treatments increased 30.9%, 66.3% and 36.6%, respectively; The seasonal amounts of soil CO2 emissions increased by 68.7% in NS treatment, but had no significant difference in biochar treatments. Cumulative N2O emission was reduced by 33.9%, 23.8% and 58.6% under NS, NBClow and NBChigh treatments, respectively; The carbon footprint increased by 26.0% in NS treatment, but reduced by 198.0% and 112.9% in NBClow and NBChigh treatments, respectively. These findings indicate that applying wheat straw biochar reduces carbon footprint in the agricultural ecosystems.