ORIGINAL PAPER
Sustainable nitrogen release and changes in soil properties induced by composite biochar-manure pellets with mineral additives
1
Division of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Nowoursynowska Str. 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
2
Institute of Horticulture – National Research Institute (INHORT), Konstytucji 3 Maja Str. 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Submission date: 2025-11-24
Final revision date: 2026-01-20
Acceptance date: 2026-02-23
Online publication date: 2026-02-23
Publication date: 2026-02-23
Corresponding author
Tomasz Niedziński
Faculty of Agriculture and Ecology, Division of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warsaw, Polska
Faculty of Agriculture and Ecology, Division of Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776, Warsaw, Polska
Soil Sci. Ann., 2026, 77(1)218478
KEYWORDS
Biochar-manure pelletsNitrogen transformationControlled-release fertilizerSoil buffering capacitySustainable nutrient management
ABSTRACT
Composite biochar-manure-mineral pellets were evaluated under 100-day incubation conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to elucidate mechanisms controlling nitrogen transformation and soil chemical buffering. Eight formulations combining biochar from various feedstocks, poultry manure, gypsum, lime, and organic substrates were tested on Luvisol soil and designed to represent contrasting pellet chemistries. Soil pH initially increased to 6.7 in lime- and gypsum-enriched variants, then gradually declined, whereas mushroom substrate and fruit-stone biochar maintained near-neutral pH (>6.0) at the end of incubation. Electrical conductivity rose steadily from 102 to 1100–1180 µS cm-1 in manure-gypsum treatments, confirming controlled ionic release without salinity stress. Ammonium reached 250 mg N kg-1 (G1–G3) before gradually converting to nitrate, which peaked above 200 mg N kg-1 by day 100. The rate of Kjeldahl nitrogen change from the granules was moderate, with 62–92% of the initial content remaining at the end of incubation. The results reveal dual-phase kinetics: early nitrate accumulation in soil followed by delayed intragranular peaks, driven by oxygen diffusion and pH-dependent nitrification. Integration of biochar, gypsum, and lime produced three synergistic buffering effects: temporal (delayed nitrification), chemical (pH stabilization), and hydro-ionic (gradual ECe evolution). These findings establish a basis for designing composite organo-mineral fertilizers that synchronize nitrogen release with soil microbial activity while minimizing acidification and nutrient losses.
REFERENCES (54)
1.
Abel, S., Peters, A., Trinks, S., Schonsky, H., Facklam, M., Wessolek, G., 2013. Impact of biochar and hydrochar addition on water retention and water repellency of sandy soil. Geoderma 202–203, 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geod....
2.
Alomari, L., Al-Issa, T., Kiyyam, M. A., Al Tawaha, A.R., 2024. The Impact of Biochar and Compost as Soil Amendments, Combined with Poultry Manure, on the Growth, Yield, and Chemical Composition of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Journal of Ecological Engineering 25, 12–28. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998....
3.
Atkinson, C.J., Fitzgerald, J.D., Hipps, N.A., 2010. Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: A review [Review]. Plant and Soil 337(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104....
4.
Banik, C., Bakshi, S., Laird, D., Smith, R., Brown, R., 2023. Impact of biochar‐based slow‐release N‐fertilizers on maize growth and nitrogen recovery efficiency. Journal of Environmental Quality 52. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.2....
5.
Calvano, C., Tamborrino, A., 2022. Valorization of Olive By-Products: Innovative Strategies for Their Production, Treatment and Characterization. Foods 11, 768. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods1....
6.
Chintalaa, R., Mollinedo, J., Schumacher, T., Malo, D., Julson, J., 2013. Effect of biochar on chemical properties of acidic soil (vol 60, pg 393, 2012). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 61, 889–889. https://doi.org/10.1080/036503....
7.
Clough, T., Condron, L.M., 2010. Biochar and the Nitrogen Cycle: Introduction. Journal of environmental quality 39, 1218–1223. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq201....
8.
Clough, T., Condron, L.M., Kammann, C., Müller, C., 2013. A Review of Biochar and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics. Agronomy 3, 275–293. https://doi.org/10.3390/agrono....
9.
Ekholm, P., Ollikainen, M., Punttila, E., Ala-Harja, V., Riihimäki, J., Kiirikki, M., Begum, K., 2024. Gypsum Amendment of Agricultural Fields Decreases Phosphorus Losses - Evidence on a Catchment Scale. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4....
10.
Ekholm, P., Valkama, P., Röman, E., Kiirikki, M., Lahti, K., Pietola, L., 2012. Gypsum amendment of soils reduces phosphorus losses in an agricultural catchment. Agricultural and Food Science 21, 279–291. https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci....
11.
Fauzan, M., Arafat, S., Irawan, A., 2025. Enhancing saline soil fertility through biochar and organic manure combinations: An incubation study. Journal of Ecological Engineering 26, 82–95. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998....
12.
Fidel, R., Laird, D., Spokas, K., 2018. Sorption of ammonium and nitrate to biochars is electrostatic and pH-dependent. Scientific Reports 8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
13.
Firnass, M., Pandian, K., Kuppusamy, S., Krishnaveni, D., 2023. Synthesis of biochar‐embedded slow‐release nitrogen fertilizers; Mesocosm and field scale evaluation for nitrogen use efficiency, growth and rice yield. Soil Use and Management 40. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12....
14.
Fornes, F., Lidón, A., Belda, R.M., Macan, G.P.F., Cayuela, M. L., Sánchez-García, M., Sánchez-Monedero, M. A., 2024. Soil fertility and plant nutrition in an organic olive orchard after 5 years of amendment with compost, biochar or their blend. Scientific Reports 14(1), 16606. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
15.
Fávero, C., Leal, C., Churka Blum, S., Barth, G., José, G., 2006. Surface application of lime ameliorates subsoil acidity and improves root growth and yield of wheat in an acid soil under no-till system. Scientia Agricola 63. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-....
16.
Gai, X., Wang, H., Liu, J., Zhai, L., Liu, S., Ren, T., Liu, H., 2014. Effects of Feedstock and Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Adsorption of Ammonium and Nitrate. PloS one 9, e113888. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
17.
Glaser, B., Lehmann, J., Zech, W., 2002. Ameliorating Physical and Chemical Properties of Highly Weathered Soils in the Tropics with Charcoal – a Review. Biology and Fertility of Soils 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374....
18.
Goulding, K., 2016. Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom. Soil Use and Management 32. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12....
19.
Hagemann, N., Kammann, C., Schmidt, H.P., Kappler, A., Behrens, S., 2017. Nitrate capture and slow release in biochar amended compost and soil. Plose One 12, e0171214. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
20.
Hale, S., Alling, V., Martinsen, V., Mulder, J., Breedveld, G., and Cornelissen, G., 2013. The sorption and desorption of phosphate-P, ammonium-N and nitrate-N in cacao shell and corn cob biochars. Chemosphere 91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
21.
Hassan, M., Huang, G., Munir, R., Khan, T., Noor, M., 2024. Biochar Co-Compost: A Promising Soil Amendment to Restrain Greenhouse Gases and Improve Rice Productivity and Soil Fertility. Agronomy 14, 1583. https://doi.org/10.3390/agrono....
22.
Hou, T., Chen, N., Tong, S., Li, B., He, Q., Feng, C., 2018. Enhancement of rice bran as carbon and microbial sources on the nitrate removal from groundwater. Biochemical Engineering Journal 148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.....
23.
Igalavithana, A., Lee, S.E., Lee, Y., Tsang, D., Rinklebe, J., Ok, Y.S., 2017. Heavy metal immobilization and microbial community abundance by vegetable waste and pine cone biochar of agricultural soils. Chemosphere 174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
26.
IUSS Working Group WRB., 2015. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps, World Soil Resources Reports 106. Rome: FAO.
27.
Jeffery, S., Verheijen, F.G.A., van der Velde, M., Bastos, A.C., 2011. A quantitative review of the effects of biochar application to soils on crop productivity using meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 144(1), 175–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee....
28.
Kammann, C., Schmidt, H.P., Messerschmidt, N., Linsel, S., Müller, C., Koyro, H.W., Joseph, S., 2015. Erratum: Plant growth improvement mediated by nitrate capture in co-composted biochar. Scientific Reports 5, 11080;. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11....
29.
Lebrun, M., Zahid, Z., Bednik-Dudek, M., Medyńska-Juraszek, A., Száková, J., Brtnický, M., Trakal, L., 2023. Combined biochar and manure addition to an agricultural soil benefits fertility, microbial activity, and mitigates manure‐induced CO2 emissions. Soil Use and Management 40. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12....
30.
Lehmann, J., Rillig, M., Thies, J., Masiello, C., Hockaday, W., Crowley, D., 2011. Biochar effects on soil biota - A review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43, 1812–1836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soil....
31.
Liang, B., Lehmann, J., Solomon, D., Kinyangi, J., Grossman, J., O'Neill, B., Neves, E.G., 2006. Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70(5), 1719–1730. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2....
32.
Malinska, K., Zabochnicka, M., and Dach, J., 2014. Effects of biochar amendment on ammonia emission during composting of sewage sludge. Ecological Engineering 71, 474–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecol....
33.
Mandal, S., Thangarajan, R., Bolan, N., Sarkar, B., Khan, N., Ok, Y.S., Naidu, R., 2015. Biochar-induced concomitant decrease in ammonia volatilization and increase in nitrogen use efficiency by wheat. Chemosphere 142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
34.
Niedziński, T., Rutkowska, B., Łabętowicz, J., Szulc, W., 2023. Effect of Deep Placement Fertilization on the Distribution of Biomass, Nutrients, and Root System Development in Potato Plants. Plants 12(9), 1880. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants....
35.
Niedziński, T., Sierra, M. J., Łabętowicz, J., Noras, K., Cabrales, C., Millán, R., 2021. Release of nitrogen from granulate mineral and organic fertilizers and its effect on selected chemical parameters of soil. Agronomy 11(10), 1981. https://doi.org/10.3390/agrono....
36.
Niedziński, T., Łabętowicz, J., Stępień, W., Pęczek, T., 2023. Analysis of the Use of Biochar from Organic Waste Pyrolysis in Agriculture and Environmental Protection. Journal of Ecological Engineering 24(4), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998....
37.
Oarga, A., Jenssen, P., and Griessler Bulc, T., 2019. A comparison of various bulking materials as a supporting matrix in composting blackwater solids from vacuum toilets. Journal of Environmental Management 243, 78–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenv....
38.
Oarga, A., Mihelic, R., Walochnik, J., Griessler Bulc, T., 2016. Composting of the solid fraction of blackwater from a separation system with vacuum toilets – Effects on the process and quality. Journal of Cleaner Production 112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcle....
39.
Olifir, Y., Habryiel, A., Partyka, T., Havryshko, O., Konyk, H., Panakhyd, H., Ivaniuk, V., 2024. The dynamics of mobile iron compounds and redox potential of Albic Pantostagnic Luvisol depending on long-term various fertilisation. Soil Science Annual 75, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.37501/soils....
40.
Pandian, K., Vijayakumar, S., Firnass, M., Subramanian, P., C, S., 2024. Biochar -a sustainable soil conditioner for improving soil health, crop production and environment under changing climate: a review. Frontiers in Soil Science 4, 1376159. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.....
41.
Prommer, J., Wanek, W., Hofhansl, F., Trojan, D., Offre, P., Urich, T., Hood-Nowotny, R. , 2014. Biochar Decelerates Soil Organic Nitrogen Cycling but Stimulates Soil Nitrification in a Temperate Arable Field Trial. PloS One 9, e86388. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa....
42.
Quilliam, R., Marsden, K., Gertler, C., Rousk, J., DeLuca, T., Jones, D., 2012. Nutrient dynamics, microbial growth and weed emergence in biochar amended soil are influenced by time since application and reapplication rate. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 158, 192–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee....
43.
Rebecca, E., 2023. Liming remediates soil acidity and improves crop yield and profitability - a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Agronomy 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.....
44.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making vailable on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003.
45.
Shi, G., Hou, R., Li, T., Fu, Q., Chen, Q., Xue, P., Yang, X., 2024. Effects of biochar on the transformation and utilization of nitrogen fertilizer in the black soil region of Northeast China. Science of The Total Environment 953, 176218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
46.
Siewruk, K., Szulc, W., 2023. Assessment of the effect of intensive agricultural production on nutrient movement in soil. Soil Science Annual 74, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.37501/soils....
47.
Skuta, I., Kołodziej, B., Filipek-Mazur, B., Antonkiewicz, J., 2025. The Use of Carbonate-Clay Flour, Sewage Sludge and Waste Sulfate Sulfur as Fertilizer Agents. Resources 14(7), 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/resour....
48.
Sriraj, P., Butnan, S., 2024. Lasting effects of the co-application of rice husk biochar with cattle manure and compost on soil and corn. Soil Science Annual 75(4), Article 195816. https://doi.org/10.37501/soils....
49.
Sumner, M. E., Shahandeh, H., Bouton, J., and Hammel, J., 1986. Amelioration of an acid soil profile through deep liming and surface application of gypsum. Soil Science Society of America Journal 50(5), 1254–1258. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1....
50.
Sun, X., Yang, X., Hu, Z., Liu, F., Zijian, X., Li, S., Bol, R., 2024. Biochar effects on soil nitrogen retention, leaching and yield of perennial citron daylily under three irrigation regimes. Agricultural Water Management 296, 108788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwa....
51.
Wang, C., Luo, D., Zhang, X., Huang, R., Cao, Y., Liu, G., Wang, H., 2022. Biochar-based slow-release of fertilizers for sustainable agriculture: A mini review. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology 10, 100167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.....
52.
Yang, W., Zhang, L., Wang, Z., Zhang, J., Li, P., Su, L., 2025. Effects of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on microbial communities, CO2 emissions, and organic carbon content in soil. Scientific Reports 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
53.
Yurong, G., Fang, Z., Van Zwieten, L., Bolan, N., Dong, D., Quin, B., Chen, W., 2022. A critical review of biochar-based nitrogen fertilizers and their effects on crop production and the environment. Biochar 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773....
54.
Zhang, M., Xie, W., Zhong, X., Wang, Y., Li, S., Zhou, Y., Wang, C., 2024. The impact of combined application of biochar and fertilizer on the biochemical properties of soil in soybean fields. PeerJ 12, e18172. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.....
| eISSN: | 2300-4975 |
| ISSN: | 2300-4967 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
