ABSTRACT
Soil column experiments in laboratory were conducted to determine the effect of biochar application on the vertical transport of NO(3-)-N in red soil. Biochar was mixed thoroughly with soil at rates of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t · hm(-2), i. e., biochar/soil ratios of 0, 2.22%, 4.459%, 8.95%, 13.37% and 17.80%. The CXTFIT 2.0 model was used to simulate the breakthrough curve of NO(3-)-N. The results were as follows: the breakthrough curve of NO(3-)-N varied remarkably with the increase of biochar application rate under saturated condition. The peak values of relative concentration (C/Co) , leaching rate and cumulative loss of NO(3-)-N all significantly decreased with the increasing biochar application rate. There existed a certain prolongation of the breakthrough curves among all treatments. The more the biochar was applied, the more obviously the break-through curve was prolonged. According to the correlation analysis between the NO(3-)-N break-through curves and soil properties, biochar affected the bulk density, organic carbon, total porosity, CEC of red soil, which would exert an effect on the breakthrough curves. The simulation value and the actual obtained value of the breakthrough curves were positively correlated with the correlation coefficients being over 0. 850 in all breakthrough curves, which indicated the CXTFIT 2.0 model could best fit the prediction of nitrate-N transport and relative infiltration. These results could provide a scientific basis for predicting the effect of biochar on nitrate-N in underground water after biochar incorporation into field.
