Pedosphere (4): 947--961, 2026
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2026 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Beneficial effects of biochar on soil quality and plant performance are dose-dependent and closely associated with soil pH |
Jiafan LI1, Mengyuan SONG1, Junhui YIN2, Owen FENTON3, Lihong GAO1 , Yongqiang TIAN1 |
1 Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, Department of Vegetable Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193 (China);
2 School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107 (China);
3 Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Environmental Research Centre, Co. Wexford Y35 T80F (Ireland) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Soil degradation threatens global agriculture and food security. Biochar derived from agricultural waste is widely used as a soil amendment to restore degraded soils. However, there is limited information on how different biochar application rates affect overall soil quality and plant performance under various soil pH conditions. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the responses of soil quality and plant performance to different application rates (0 (control), 1.25%, 2.50%, 5.00%, and 10.00%, corresponding to approximately 0, 28, 56, 112, and 224 Mg ha-1, respectively) of palm empty fruit-based biochar (with a pH of 9.84) under various soil pH conditions (acidic, neutral, and alkaline). A comprehensive soil quality index (SQI, integrating physical, chemical, and microbial properties) and a plant performance index (PPI, integrating growth parameters) were used to assess key cucumber growth traits and soil quality responses. Results showed that both PPI and SQI increased with higher biochar application rates in acidic soil, while in neutral and alkaline soils, they increased at lower rates but decreased at higher rates. Based on SQI and PPI results, the optimal biochar application rates (OBARs) for acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils were 10.00%, 5.00%, and 2.50%, respectively. At these OBARs, SQI increased by 55.51%, 6.33%, and 17.88%, and PPI increased by 72.01%, 203.62%, and 36.77% in acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed an inverse relationship between OBARs and initial soil pH and a parabolic relationship between changes in SQI and final soil pH, indicating the importance of optimal soil pH in determining the effectiveness of biochar application. Management decisions related to cucumber cultivation should be cognizant of the beneficial effects of biochar on both overall soil quality and crop performance. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing biochar application strategies under different soil pH conditions, thereby enhancing soil restoration efforts, promoting sustainable cucumber production, and opening new avenues for developing climate-smart agricultural systems in the context of global climate change. However, in order to translate these findings into practical applications, further research is needed, including large-scale field experiments and comprehensive economic assessments under diverse climatic and soil conditions to validate the scalability and economic viability of biochar use in agriculture. |
| Key Words: optimal biochar application rate,plant growth,plant performance index,soil amendment,soil degradation,soil quality index,sustainable agriculture |
| Citation: Li J F, SongMY, Yin J H, Fenton O, Gao L H, Tian Y Q. 2026. Beneficial effects of biochar on soil quality and plant performance are dose-dependent and closely associated with soil pH. Pedosphere. 36(4): 947-961. |
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