Biochar and forest restoration: a review and meta-analysis of tree growth responses

Thomas, Sean C.; Gale, Nigel V.

doi:10.1007/s11056-015-9491-7

Cited by 173 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…BCA applications and NS, in general, significantly increased stem diameter, seedling height, RDM, TFM, SDM, and QID of seedlings, in comparison with BC and CS substrates (Figure 3). These results agree with the literature, which, in general, shows strong positive growth responses of seedlings to the use of biochar in the nursery phase (Cernansky, 2015;DeLuca et al, 2015;Ghosh et al, 2015;Thomas & Gale, 2015).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Biochar in substrate composition for production of teak seedlings

Rezende

Santos

Maia

et al. 2016

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and quality of clonal seedlings of teak (Tectona grandis) grown in substrate with two types of biochar. The assay was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with ten treatments and four replicates: CS, commercial substrate, composed of pine bark and vermiculite at a ratio of 4:1; NS, nursery substrate composed of carbonized rice husk and coconut fiber at 1:1; and the remaining treatments were composed of the inclusions of biochar (BC) or activated biochar (BCA) in the CS, at the proportions of 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The development and quality parameters of seedlings were evaluated 90 days after striking the minicuttings in the substrates. BCA substrate additions at 25, 50, and 100% allowed for a development of height and stem diameter comparable to that of the NS. Biochar without the activation procedure does not improve quality parameters of seedlings, in comparison with the commercial substrate. The use of 25% activated biochar added to the commercial substrate is enough to improve seedling growth performance to the same level as that provided by the already validated NS.Index terms: Tectona grandis, agroindustrial waste, biochar activity, pyrolysis, seedling quality. Biochar na composição de substratos para a produção de mudas de tecaResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a qualidade de mudas clonais de teca (Tectona grandis) cultivadas em substrato com dois tipos de biochar. O ensaio foi realizado em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições: SC, substrato comercial, composto de casca de pinus e vermiculita à proporção de 4:1; SV, substrato do viveiro, composto de casca de arroz carbonizada e fibra de coco a 1:1; e o restante dos tratamentos foi composto de inclusões de biochar (B) e biochar ativado (BA), nas proporções de 25, 50, 75 e 100% do SC. Os parâmetros de desenvolvimento e qualidade das mudas foram avaliados 90 dias após o plantio das estacas nos substratos. A adição de 25, 50 e 100% de BA possibilitou o desenvolvimento em altura e diâmetro do coleto comparável ao proporcionado pelo SV. O biochar sem o procedimento de ativação não melhora os parâmetros de qualidade das mudas, em comparação ao substrato comercial. A adição de biochar ativado na proporção de 25% já é suficiente para melhorar o crescimento das mudas para o mesmo nível proporcionado pelo já validado SV.Termos para indexação: Tectona grandis, resíduo agroindustrial, atividade do biochar, pirólise, qualidade de mudas.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Biochar in substrate composition for production of teak seedlings

Rezende

Santos

Maia

et al. 2016

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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“…Amiata (hereafter: "beech" forests). Mean annual rainfall and temperature in this area vary from 780.7 mm and 15.4 °C along the coast to 1.641 mm and 8.7 °C on the Apennines (period 1961-1990-Regione Toscana 2016 …”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 94%

Former charcoal platforms in Mediterranean forest areas: a hostile microhabitat for the recolonization by woody species

Carrari¹,

Ampoorter²,

Verheyen³

et al. 2017

iForest

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Production of wood charcoal is a traditional form of forest use that lasted for millennia in the Mediterranean countries. Following their almost complete abandonment in the last century, thousands of old charcoal platforms remain in present-day forest landscapes. These sites are characterized by peculiar ecological conditions, whose effects on the recolonization by woody plants are still unknown. We examined 61 platforms in evergreen sclerophyllous woodlands and deciduous broadleaf forests with oaks and beech, spread over a wide geographic range in Tuscany (Italy). At each site, one kiln plot (on charcoal platform) and one control plot (in the adjacent stand) were established, and soil, light conditions and herb cover were measured. We examined species richness and composition of trees and shrubs in the understorey layer (<1.3 m) and in the "established regeneration" layer (> 1.3-4 m). In the latter, structural parameters such as number of stools, dbh, mean height and number of stems were compared. The density of seedlings of dominant tree species in the understorey was also measured in a subsample of sites per forest type. In the understorey, a general positive effect of kiln platforms was found on species richness at both the habitat and plot-scale level, as well as on species composition, especially in oak forests. Increased light availability, total C content and soil pH were positively related with species richness, while N content was a negative predictor. Density of seedlings was not substantially affected. Contrastingly, woody species richness in the established regeneration layer was considerably lower in the kiln plots of all three forest types. In sclerophyllous forests, all species in this layer were taller, denser and with a higher basal area compared to control plots, while regeneration was completely lacking on platforms of the two other forest types. Soil N content had a positive influence on structural parameters, while total C content resulting from charcoal accumulation had a negative influence. We conclude that charcoal platforms are a favorable microhabitat only in the first regeneration stages of woody species, as their further growth is hindered by long-term effects that should be investigated with an experimental approach.

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“…The use of vegetative compost increases microbial activity and protects against erosion (Ruttens et al 2006;Carlson et al 2015) while biochar immobilizes toxic heavy metals owing to its high pH, large surface area for sorption of metals, alkalinity, and ash content (Namgay et al 2010;Paz-Ferreiro et al 2014). A meta-analysis of recent studies on biochar responses of woody plants concluded that addition of biochar has potential for large tree growth responses, with 41% average increase in biomass, and hence holds promise for forest restoration (Thomas and Gale 2015).…”

Section: Biological Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

et al. 2018

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Mining alters the natural landscape and discharges large volumes of wastes that pose serious pollution hazards to the environment, to human health and to agriculture. As a result, the recent 2 decades have witnessed a global surge in research on post-mining landscape restoration, yielding a suite of techniques including physical, chemical, biological (also known as phytoremediation) and combinations. Despite the long history of mining in Africa, no systematic review has summarized advances in restoration research and practices after mining disturbance. Thus, the aim of this review was to document the state-of-knowledge and identify gaps in restoration of postmining landscape in Africa through literature review. We found that: (1) there has been substantial progress in identifying species suitable for phytoremediation; (2) few studies evaluated the feasibility of organic amendments to promote autochthonous colonization of mine wastelands or growth of planted species; and (3) restoration of limestone quarries in Kenya, sand mining tailings in South Africa, and gold mine wasteland in Ghana are successful cases of large-scale post-mining restoration practices in Africa. However, the pace of post-mining landscape restoration research and practice in Africa is sluggish compared to other parts of the global south. We recommend: (1) mainstreaming the restoration of mine wastelands in national research strategies and increased development planning to make the mining sector ''Green''; (2) inventory of the number, area, and current status of abandoned mine lands; (3) expanding the pool of candidate species for phytostabilization; (4) further evaluating the phytostabilization potential of organic amendments, e.g., biochar; (5) assessing the impacts of mining on regional biodiversity.

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Biochar and forest restoration: a review and meta-analysis of tree growth responses

Cited by 173 publications

References 79 publications

Biochar in substrate composition for production of teak seedlings

Biochar in substrate composition for production of teak seedlings

Former charcoal platforms in Mediterranean forest areas: a hostile microhabitat for the recolonization by woody species

Progresses in restoration of post-mining landscape in Africa

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