Effect of Natural Aging of Biochar on Soil Enzymatic Activity and Physicochemical Properties in Long-Term Field Experiment

The effect of different rates of biochar on selected soil properties and enzymatic activity 48, 60, and 72 months after biochar application to soil was investigated. Soil enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase—ADh; phosphatase—Aph; urease—AU), the organic carbon content (TOC), the total nitrogen content (Nt), the mineral nitrogen content (NH4+, NO3−), and soil pH were determined. The study was conducted on Haplic Podzol originating from glaciofluvial fine-grained loamy sand. Biochar was applied to soil under winter rye (Secale cereale L.) at rates of 10 (BC10), 20 (BC20), and 30 t ha−1 (BC30). Plots with biochar-unamended soil were the control treatment (BC0). The pH, TOC, and Nt content in the biochar-amended soil were higher compared to the control soil. A broader C:N ratio was found in the BC0 soil compared to BC10, BC20, and BC30. With increasing biochar rate, the content of the ammonium nitrogen form (NH4+) decreased and was statistically lower than in the control soil (BC0). The soil in the BC20 and BC30 treatments was characterized by the highest content of NO3-, whereas the lowest nitrate nitrogen content was found in the control soil (BC0). Biochar application increased soil enzymatic activity. Dehydrogenase activity increased with increasing biochar rate. As far as phosphatase and urease activity is concerned, a similar relationship was not observed. In this case, the soil amended with biochar at a rate of 20 t ha−1 (BC20) was characterized by the highest phosphatase and urease activity.