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Effects of winter chicken grazing with biochar application on crop yield, and soil organic carbon, active carbon, and nitrogen content in double-crop paddy soil
Received:October 16, 2017  
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KeyWord:fallow paddy field;chicken;biochar;organic carbon;soil active carbon and nitrogen;seasonal variation
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
ZHOU Ling-hong College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
ZHANG Lang College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
WEI Jia-bin College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
CHENG Xiao-lin College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
XIAO Zhi-xiang College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
XU Hua-qin College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China xu7541@163.com 
TANG Jian-wu College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
TANG Qi-yuan College of Agriculture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China  
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Abstract:
      The objective of the study is to reveal whether the application of biochar and chicken manure can improve soil quality without reducing rice yield and thus reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer used during rice production. A field experiment was conducted to elucidate the effects of biochar application and chicken grazing in winter paddy soil on the seasonal changes in soil organic carbon, active carbon, nitrogen contents, and rice yield after reduced use of chemical fertilizers. Four treatments were set in a winter field in 2015:Fallow (F), winter chicken grazing (C), biochar application (B), and chicken grazing with biochar application (BC). Soil samples were collected before planting, during growth, and after harvest. Rice yield and seasonal change in soil organic carbon, active carbon, and nitrogen content were measured. The results indicated that:(1) The actual yield of early and late rice in BC treatment was 6.99 t·hm-2 and 8.02 t·hm-2, respectively, and increased by 4.13%~19.25% in comparison with that of the treatments B, C, and F; (2) The organic carbon content before the early rice period and after harvest of early and late rice was in the order:BC > B > C > F (P<0.05). The organic carbon content in BC treatment was higher than that in the treatments B and C by 4.51%~28.14%; (3) The soil active carbon and nitrogen contents decreased in the order BC > B, C > F; (4) The application of biochar could reduce the seasonal variation of organic carbon, activated carbon and soil microbial N. (5) The correlation analysis showed that the yield of early and late rice significantly correlated with soil organic carbon, active carbon, and nitrogen contents. After reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by 20%, chicken grazing and biochar application improved soil organic carbon, active carbon, and nitrogen contents, as well as rice yield. Chicken grazing combined with biochar application improved available nutrition content in the soil, and thus promoted soil conservation and rice yield in winter field in an eco-friendly manner.