Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Crop Yield in Four Successive Crops Following Application of Biochar and Zeolites

Two soil amendments, biochar and zeolites, were evaluated in their potential for increasing crop productivity agro-system sustainability. The effect of combination with four nitrogen (N) rates [0 (N0), 50 (N50), 100 (N100), 200 (N200) kg ha?1], on yield, N use efficiency, properties was a cropping system irrigated forage maize (Zea mays L.) grown summer oats (Avena sativa winter as catch crop. Biochar increased organic carbon (C), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), extractable phosphorus (P), but strongly reduced recovery the set cycles. In biochar-amended plots, N50 had negative apparent (? 21%), indicating that less recovered by plants than N0 treatment without biochar. dry matter (DM) yield 15.6% comparison to untreated control, immobilization at low (N0 N50). Zeolites did not influence or properties, except increase K, probably result its initial K content. application significantly both crops, including non-fertilized oats. Under conditions this experiment, zeolites prove be useful amendments DM short-term. C, which associated high rate can enable dual objective maintaining sustainability agro-system. results stressed also important role cover reduce risk nitrate leaching denitrification during winter.