Biochar modulates temperature sensitivity of soil N₂O emissions: soil-specific mechanisms

Abstract

Biochar is increasingly promoted as a strategy for mitigating soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, yet its effect on the temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of N₂O emissions remains poorly understood. In this study, short-term incubation experiments were conducted using two contrasting soils (agricultural and forest soils) amended with two biochar types (wood- and rice husk-derived) at three application rates (0, 1%, and 3%) under three temperatures (10 °C, 20 °C, 30 °C). We investigated how biochar alters Q₁₀ of N₂O emissions and explored the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that cumulative N₂O emissions increased with temperature in both soils, with higher Q₁₀ values in forest soils (1.63–2.84) than in agricultural soils (1.13–1.63). Only high-rate wood biochar (WH) significantly changed Q₁₀, decreasing it in agricultural soils but increasing it in forest soils. In agricultural soils, WH strongly reduced NO₃⁻–N availability and minimized its temperature response, intensifying substrate limitation and lowering Q₁₀. In forest soils, biochar accelerated the decline of NH₄⁺–N and slowed the increase of NO₃⁻–N with temperature, suggesting tighter coupling between nitrification and nitrate-consuming processes. Although WH and high rate rice-husk biochar showed the smallest NO₃⁻-temperature slopes, the unique properties of WH (e.g., low ash content, higher aromaticity, and larger pore size) may have promoted short-term NO₃⁻ retention, thereby strengthening temperature-coupled nitrification–denitrification turnover, which likely contributed to the higher Q₁₀ observed under WH. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) confirmed that temperature exerted stronger total effects on N₂O emissions than biochar through changes in substrate availability, pH, and functional genes, while biochar acted as a secondary modulator. Overall, biochar regulated N₂O Q₁₀ through soil-specific pathways, highlighting the need for soil-specific biochar application strategies under future climate change scenarios.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Q₁₀ / Microbial functional genes / Nitrification / Denitrification / Path modeling

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Funding

Natural Science foundation of China(42007090)

Special Funds for Science and Technology Innovation on Carbon Peak Carbon Neutral of Jiangsu Province China(BK20220017)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)