Low-dose biochar and nitrogen fertilizer reduces nitrogen loss in acidic tea soils
Abstract
N isotope tracing to evaluate the effects of co-applying biochar (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) with nitrogen fertilizer on tea growth, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and soil microbial communities in acidic red-soil plantations. The application of 1-2% biochar showed positive outcomes, including increased tea biomass, reduced fertilizer residue and loss, and enhanced soil microbial diversity. In contrast, a high dose of biochar (4%) decreased NUE in whole plants. This reduction was accompanied by an 82.1% increase in urease activity and a 49.5% decrease in nitrate reductase activity. Our findings suggest that co-applying 1-2% biochar with nitrogen represents a promising strategy to optimize root nitrogen uptake, improve tea biomass, and regulate soil microbial communities, thereby supporting more sustainable nitrogen management in tea plantations.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Radioactive contamination and transfer
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
Publication details
- Journal / source
- iScience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 115194–115194
- Publication date
- 28 February 2026
- Language
- EN