Returning Tea Pruning Residue and Its Biochar Had a Contrasting Effect on Soil N2O and CO2 Emissions from Tea Plantation Soil

Long-term nitrogen addition increases denitrification potential and functional gene abundance and changes denitrifying communities in acidic tea plantation soil

The response of soil denitrification to nitrogen (N) addition in the acidic and perennial agriculture systems and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, a long-term (12 years) field trial was conducted to explore the effects of different N application rates on the soil denitrification potential (DP), functional genes, and denitrifying microbial communities of a tea plantation. The study found that N application to the soil significantly increased the DP and the absolute abundance of denitrifying genes, such as narG, nirK, norB, and nosZ. The diversity of denitrifying communities (genus level) significantly decreased with increasing N rates. Moreover, the denitrifying communities composition significantly differed among the soils with different rates of N fertilization. Further variance partitioning analysis (VPA) revealed that the soil (39.04%) and pruned litter (32.53%) properties largely contributed to the variation in the denitrifying communities. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and soil pH, pruned litter's total crude fiber (TCF) content and total polyphenols to total N ratio (TP/TN), and narG and nirK abundance significantly (VIP >1.0) influenced the DP. Finally, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that N addition indirectly affected the DP by changing specific soil and pruned litter properties and functional gene abundance. Thus, the findings suggest that tea plantation is a major source of N₂O emissions that significantly enhance under N application and provide theoretical support for N fertilizer management in an acidic tea plantation system.

Identifying Sustainable Nitrogen Management Practices for Tea Plantations

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. It is mostly grown in the tropics with a heavy dependence on mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisers to maintain high yields while minimising the areas under cultivation. However, N is often applied in excess of crop requirements, resulting in substantial adverse environmental impacts. We conducted a systematic literature review, synthesising the findings from 48 studies to assess the impacts of excessive N application on soil health, and identify sustainable, alternative forms of N management. High N applications lead to soil acidification, N leaching to surface and groundwater, and the emission of greenhouse gases including nitrous oxide (N2O). We identified a range of alternative N management practices, the use of organic fertilisers, a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilisers, controlled release fertilisers, nitrification inhibitors and soil amendments including biochar. While many practices result in reduced N loading or mitigate some adverse impacts, major trade-offs include lower yields, and in some instances increased N2O emissions. Practices are also frequently trialled in isolation, meaning there may be a missed opportunity from assessing synergistic effects. Moreover, adoption rates of alternatives are low due to a lack of knowledge amongst farmers, and/or financial barriers. The use of site-specific management practices which incorporate local factors (for example climate, tea variety, irrigation requirements, site slope, and fertiliser type) are therefore recommended to improve sustainable N management practices in the long term.

The inhibition effect of tea polyphenols on soil nitrification is greater than denitrification in tea garden soil

Tea polyphenols are the most widely distributed class of secondary metabolites (Camellia sinensis) and account for a considerable proportion of the pruning residues of tea. A large amount of tea polyphenols have fallen down over soil with prunning residues every year. However, the effect of tea polyphenols on soil nitrogen cycle, especially the denitrification process and its related microbial communities, remains unclear. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant component of tea polyphenols, was selected to simulate the effects of tea polyphenols on soil nitrification, denitrification, related functional genes and microbial community. The results indicated that addition of EGCG can significantly (p < 0.05) inhibit soil nitrification. Copy numbers of bacterial and archaeal ammonia monooxygenase genes (amoA) decreased as EGCG concentration increased. Further, the ammonia oxidisers exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) greater niche differentiation under the effect of EGCG compared with the control treatment (no EGCG addition). However, the inhibition effect of EGCG over soil denitrification was most significant at 34 and 36 day of incubation period, and such inhibitory effect was more apparent on nitrification compared with denitrification. EGCG addition increased the diversity of bacterial community. The composition of bacterial community was significantly altered and community variation was primary explained by EGCG, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N, soil organic carbon contents and potential denitrification rates. EGCG addition significantly increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla whereas decreased Actinobacteria. Overall, tea polyphenols can inhibit soil nitrification to a larger extent than denitrification by reducing the abundance of microorganisms carrying the related functional genes. Our results can serve as important basis of reducing the nitrogen pollution risk in tea orchards and could be considered as a powerful natural nitrification inhibitor to reduce the environmental risks caused by unreasonable nitrogen fertiliser adaptation.

Aerated Irrigation and Pruning Residue Biochar on N2O Emission, Yield and Ion Uptake of Komatsuna

After irrigation in intensive vegetable cultivation, the soil is filled with water leading to reduced oxygen content of the soil air which will affect vegetable growth and soil N2O emission. In this study, the effect of aerated irrigation and residue biochar on soil N2O emission, yield, and ion uptake of komatsuna grown in Andosol was explored. The experiment included four treatments; control (tap water irrigation), aerated water irrigation, pruning residue biochar with tap water irrigation, and a combination of aerated irrigation and biochar. The results showed that aerated irrigation had no effect on plant growth, but it also increased N2O emission by 12.3% for several days after planting. Plant ion uptake was not affected by aerated irrigation. Biochar amendment increased shoot dry weight and significantly reduced soil N2O emission by 27.9% compared with the control. Plant uptake of N and K also increased with biochar. This study showed that pruning residue biochar has the potential to mitigate N2O emission while increasing vegetable growth and plant nutrient uptake. However, the study soil, Andosol, already has high soil porosity with low bulk density. Thus, further injection of air through irrigation showed no effect on plant growth but increased N2O emission, hence soil aeration was not a limiting factor in Andosol.