Effects of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) straw and its biochar application on NH3 volatilization and N use efficiency in a drip-irrigated cotton field

Reducing ammonia (NH3) volatilization is a practical way to increase nitrogen (N) fertilizer use efficiency (NUE). In this field study, soil was amended once with either cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) straw (6 t ha−1) or its biochar (3.7 t ha−1) unfertilized (0 kg N ha−1) or fertilized (450 kg N ha−1), and then soil inorganic N concentration and distribution, NH3 volatilization, cotton yield and NUE were measured during the next two growing seasons. In unfertilized plots, NH3 volatilization losses in the straw-amended and biochar-amended treatments were 38–40% and 42–46%, respectively, less than that in control (i.e., unamended soil) during the two growing seasons. In the fertilized plots, NH3 volatilization losses in the straw-amended and biochar-amended treatments were 30–39% and 43–54%, respectively, less than that in the control. Straw amendment increased inorganic N concentrations, cotton yield, cotton N uptake and NUE during the first cropping season after application, but not during the second. In contrast, biochar increased cotton N uptake and NUE during both the first and the second cropping seasons after application. Furthermore, the effects of biochar on cotton N uptake and NUE were greater in the second year than in the first year. These results indicate that cotton straw and cotton straw biochar can both reduce NH3 volatilization and also increase cotton yield, N uptake and NUE. In addition, the positive effects of one application of cotton straw biochar were more long-lasting than those of cotton straw.