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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 11
10.3390/agronomy15112626
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Impact of Biochar Application and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Aggregates and Aggregate Organic Carbon in Irrigated Areas of Northern Xinjiang

by
Weijun Yang
1,*,
Zi Wang
1,
Liyue Zhang
1,
Jinshan Zhang
1,
Lining Zhao
1,
Mei Yang
1 and
Pengying Li
2
1
College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
2
College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Rd, No. 3, Xianyang 712100, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2626; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112626 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 29 September 2025 / Revised: 13 November 2025 / Accepted: 14 November 2025 / Published: 15 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Farming Sustainability)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of applying biochar alongside nitrogen fertilizer on soil aggregates and aggregate-associated carbon through a two-year experiment under irrigated conditions in North Xinjiang. In 2021, a randomized block design established 36 experimental plots. The experiment employed a factorial design with three levels of nitrogen fertilizer and four levels of biochar. Measurements of soil aggregates and aggregate-associated organic carbon were taken in 2022. This study’s objectives were to quantify biochar’s effect on soil aggregation and stability and to determine the distribution of SOC across different aggregate sizes. The results indicated that macroaggregates (> 2 mm and 0.25–2 mm) were most common (N2B1, N2B2, and N2B3), making up 75.57–78.46% of all aggregates. In treatments with reduced nitrogen and biochar (N2B1, N2B2, and N2B3), soil aggregate refractory organic carbon content was significantly higher compared to other treatments. Generally, applying reduced nitrogen with moderate biochar (N2B2) significantly increased soil organic carbon and refractory organic carbon levels, aiding carbon fixation and improving soil carbon storage. Thus, biochar application effectively enhances carbon storage in agricultural soils, offering valuable insights for improving soil fertility in irrigated regions of northern Xinjiang.
Keywords: nitrogen; biochar; soil aggregates; organic carbon nitrogen; biochar; soil aggregates; organic carbon

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yang, W.; Wang, Z.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, L.; Yang, M.; Li, P. Impact of Biochar Application and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Aggregates and Aggregate Organic Carbon in Irrigated Areas of Northern Xinjiang. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2626. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112626

AMA Style

Yang W, Wang Z, Zhang L, Zhang J, Zhao L, Yang M, Li P. Impact of Biochar Application and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Aggregates and Aggregate Organic Carbon in Irrigated Areas of Northern Xinjiang. Agronomy. 2025; 15(11):2626. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112626

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang, Weijun, Zi Wang, Liyue Zhang, Jinshan Zhang, Lining Zhao, Mei Yang, and Pengying Li. 2025. "Impact of Biochar Application and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Aggregates and Aggregate Organic Carbon in Irrigated Areas of Northern Xinjiang" Agronomy 15, no. 11: 2626. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112626

APA Style

Yang, W., Wang, Z., Zhang, L., Zhang, J., Zhao, L., Yang, M., & Li, P. (2025). Impact of Biochar Application and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Aggregates and Aggregate Organic Carbon in Irrigated Areas of Northern Xinjiang. Agronomy, 15(11), 2626. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112626

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