All Issue

2025 Vol.52, Issue 4 Preview Page

Food & Chemistry

Short-term effect of biochar application on crop productivity under varying soil pH conditions
Yun-Gu Kang1†
,
Yong-Jun Kim12†
,
Jun-Yeong Lee1
,
Jun-Ho Kim1
,
Jiwon Choi1
,
Ji-Hoon Kim1
,
Taek-Keun Oh13*
1Department of Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Department of Rural Development, Agricultural & Technology Center, Gongju City Government, Gongju 32528, Korea
3Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors equally contributed to this study as first author.
1 December 2025. pp. 481-490
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of rice husk biochar (pH 11.0) application on soil properties and Kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa L. cv. Hwanggeumbaechu) yield under different soil pH conditions. Three soil types, including acidic (pH 3.92), neutral (pH 6.59), and alkaline (pH 8.31), were prepared by adjusting an initial upland soil with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) or 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), while maintaining other chemical properties constant. Rice husk biochar was applied at 1% (w/w) and compared to an inorganic fertilizer application solely. Biochar application significantly increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (T-N), organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (Avail. P), and exchangeable Ca2+, with the greatest improvements observed in neutral (pH 6.59) upland soils. Kimchi cabbage showed superior uptake performance of the soil NH4+, NO3−, and Avail. P contents in ranging from pH 6.3 to 6.5, declining under excessive soil alkalinity. Biochar treatment enhanced cabbage yield across all pH conditions, with the highest yield (32.28 Mg·ha-1) in neutral soils, indicating 13% greater than the alkaline counterpart. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) patterns varied: N and P2O5 uptake decreased with increasing pH beyond neutral, whereas K2O uptake increased under alkaline conditions. These findings indicate that rice husk biochar can improve soil fertility and crop productivity, but its effectiveness depends on initial soil pH. Overly alkaline conditions may reduce the benefits by lowering N and P availability despite improved K uptake. Therefore, soil pH assessment should precede biochar application to maximize agronomic and soil improvement effects.

Keywords
Kimchi cabbage
nutrient use efficiency
rice husk biochar
soil fertility
soil pH
References
1

Gong H, Zhao L, Rui X, Hu J, Zhu N. 2022. A review of pristine and modified biochar immobilizing typical heavy metals in soil: Applications and challenges. Journal of Hazardous Materials 432:128668.

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128668
2

Haider FU, Coulter JA, Cai L, Hussain S, Cheema SA, Wu J, Zhang R. 2022. An overview on biochar production, its implications, and mechanisms of biochar-induced amelioration of soil and plant characteristics. Pedosphere 32:107-130.

10.1016/S1002-0160(20)60094-7
3

Jeon YJ, Kang YG, Eun JA, Oh TK. 2024. Yield, functional properties and nutritional compositions of leafy vegetables with dehydrated food waste and spent coffee grounds. Applied Biological Chemistry 67:22.

10.1186/s13765-024-00863-0
4

Kang YG, Choi J, Lee JY, Kim JH, Kim JH, Park DG, Oh TK, Yun YU. 2024a. Response of biochar amendment for substituting organic fertilizer ingredients in kale-grown soils. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 51:819-827. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.510430
5

Kang YG, Chun JH, Yun YU, Lee JY, Sung J, Oh TK. 2024b. Pyrolysis temperature and time of rice husk biochar potentially control ammonia emissions and Chinese cabbage yield from urea-fertilized soils. Scientific Reports 14:5692.

10.1038/s41598-024-54307-238453974PMC10920921
6

Kang YG, Kim JH, Lee JY, Kim JH, Choi J, Oh TK. 2025. Potential role of pyrolysis temperature for brewer’s spent grain biochar on mitigating ammonia emissions from urea-fertilized soils. Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer 58:190-201. [in Korean]

10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.2.190
7

Kang YG, Lee JH, Lee JY, Kim JH, Oh TK. 2023a. Effects of biochar-based fertilizer on ammonia volatilization under controlled conditions. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 50:479-488. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.500313
8

Kang YG, Lee JY, Kim JH, Oh TK, Yun YU. 2023b. Effects of organic amendments on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil chemical properties in acidic and non-acidic soils. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 50:713-721. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.500410
9

Kim HS, Lee YK, Park BJ, Lee JE, Jeong SS, Kim KR, Kim SC, Kirkham MB, Yang JE, Kim KH, et al. 2024. Alginate-encapsulated biochar as an effective soil ameliorant for reducing Pb phytoavailability to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 31:22802-22813.

10.1007/s11356-024-32594-6
10

Kim SS, Lee YN, Lee DW, Shim JH, Jeon SH, Roh AS, Kwon SI, Kim SH. 2025. Determination of optimal mixing ratio of organic fertilizer and biochar derived from agricultural waste to increase crop growth and soil carbon sequestration. Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer 58:118-124. [in Korean]

10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.1.118
11

Lee B, Sung J. 2023. Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of upland carrot affected by various basal fertilizers and fertigation ratio. Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer 56:260-269. [in Korean]

10.7745/KJSSF.2023.56.3.260
12

Lee DJ, Lee KM, Hong YK, Kim JW, Kim SC. 2024a. Effect of biochar beads coated with polydopamine on heavy metal adsorption in aqueous phase. Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer 57:294-306. [in Korean]

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.294
13

Lee JY, Kang YG, Kim JH, Oh TK, Yun YU. 2023. Effects of nutrient-coated biochar amendments on the growth and elemental composition of leafy vegetables. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 50:967-976. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.500430
14

Lee JY, Park DG, Kang YG, Kim JH, Kim JH, Choi JW, Yun YU, Oh TK. 2024b. Effect of biochar derived from rice husk and chicken manure on lettuce growth and soil chemical properties. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 51:271-281. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.510303
15

Park JO, Kang YG, Lee DB, Lee BO, Oh TK. 2024. Effect of liquid fraction from livestock manure on short-term cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivation. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 51:625-634. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.510416
16

Peng X, Ye LL, Wang CH, Zhou H, Sun B. 2011. Temperature- and duration-dependent rice straw-derived biochar: Characteristics and its effects on soil properties of an Ultisol in Southern China. Soil and Tillage Research 112:159-166.

10.1016/j.still.2011.01.002
17

Rees F, Simonnot MO, Morel JL. 2014. Short-term effects of biochar on soil heavy metal mobility are controlled by intra-particle diffusion and soil pH increase. European Journal of Soil Science 65:149-161.

10.1111/ejss.12107
18

Shin JH, Kang YG, Lee JY, Kim JH, Oh TK. 2024. Effect of poultry manure biochar on soil nutrition and carbon improvement in Saemangeum reclaimed soils. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 51:643-654. [in Korean]

10.7744/kjoas.510418
19

Truog E. 1947. Soil reaction influence on availability of plant nutrients. Soil Science Society of America Journal 11:305-308.

10.2136/sssaj1947.036159950011000C0057x
20

Wang F, Wang X, Song N. 2021. Biochar and vermicompost improve the soil properties and the yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) grown in plastic shed soil continuously cropped for different years. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 315:107425.

10.1016/j.agee.2021.107425
21

Wang J, Wang S. 2019. Preparation, modification and environmental application of biochar: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production 227:1002-1022.

10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.282
22

Wijeysingha S, Walpola BC, Kang YG, Yoon MH, Oh TK. 2023. Practical significance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in sustainable agriculture: A review. Korean Journal of Agricultural Science 50:759-771.

10.7744/kjoas.500414
23

Xie Y, Wang L, Li H, Westholm LJ, Carvalho L, Thorin E, Yu Z, Skreiberg Ø. 2022. A critical review on production, modification and utilization of biochar. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 161:105405.

10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105405
24

Xie Y, Yang C, Ma E, Tan H, Zhu T, Muller C. 2020. Biochar stimulates NH4+ turnover while decreasing NO3− production and N2O emissions in soils under long-term vegetable cultivation. Science of the Total Environment 737:140266.

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140266
Information
  • Publisher :Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :충남대학교 농업과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업과학연구
  • Volume : 52
  • No :4
  • Pages :481-490
  • Received Date : 2025-08-16
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-02
  • Accepted Date : 2025-09-03
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.520407
Journal Informaiton Korean Journal of Agricultural Science Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref funder-registry
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close