[Effects of nitrogen fertilizer reduction and biochar application on paddy soil nutrient and nitrogen uptake of rice].

We explored the impacts of nitrogen (N) reduction and biochar application on soil fertility and nutrient uptake of rice in early and late seasons of 2018 with a field experiment. There were six treatments, including control (no N application, CK), conventional N application (N), 20% N reduction (N), 20% N reduction plus biochar application (N+BC), 40% N reduction (N), 40% N reduction plus biochar application (N+BC). Our results showed that 20% and 40% N reduction and/or with biochar application did not affect soil pH, organic matter, total N, total phosphorous (P), total potassium (K), ammonium N, available P and K in comparison with N treatment. N+BC and N+BC substantially increased soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) at tillering stage and electrical conductivity (EC) at heading stage in late season, respectively. Compared with the treatment with single N reduction, N+BC significantly increased soil available K in early and late seasons and soil pH and total N in late season, while N+BC increased soil total K at mature stage in early season. Soil nitrate content was decreased along with the growth stages for all treatments in early season. Compared with tillering stage, soil nitrate N content in conventional N application at heading stage and mature stage was decreased by 50.0% and 71.6%, respectively. Soil nitrate content in biochar treatment only was decreased by 6.3%-45.5%. N application along with biochar application had no significant effects on plant N uptake and utilization in early season. However, N reduction with biochar application significantly increased plant N uptake and N utilization rate by 34.8%-52.4% in late season, compared to conventional N application and single N reduction. Our findings suggest that adequate N reduction along with biochar application could maintain soil health and improve plant N uptake and utilization efficiency.