Buried charcoal layer and ectomycorrhizae cooperatively promote the growth of Larix gmelinii seedlings

Abstract

Charcoal produced by fire on the soil surface mixes into the soil over time and is heterogeneously distributed within the soil profile in post-fire forests. To determine how different patterns of vertical distribution of charcoal and ectomycorrhizal formation affect the growth of Larix gmelinii (Gmelin larch) in post-fire forests, we conducted a model experiment in the pots. In this study, pots with a layer of charcoal in the middle of the soil profile promoted growth of the root system of the seedlings significantly more than did pots with no charcoal or with charcoal scattered throughout the soil. Along with the development of the root system, above-ground biomass and total biomass were also increased. Furthermore, in addition to the positive effects of charcoal in the soil, there were also strong positive effects on the growth of seedlings from ectomycorrhizal root formation. As a result, the largest above-ground biomass and total biomass were found for seedlings grown in layered charcoal with ectomycorrhizae. Furthermore, the highest phosphorus concentration in needles was also found for seedlings grown in layered charcoal with ectomycorrhizae. This is attributable to the frequent contact of roots with charcoal in the middle layer of the soil and the utilisation of phosphate by ectomycorrhizae. This suggests that buried and layered charcoal occurring in patches in post-fire stands may provide a suitable habitat for the growth of Gmelin larch seedlings.

The structure and soil characteristics of a Pinus tabuliformis planted forest after 60 years of natural development in North China

“…In the present study, bacterial biomass significantly differed among the three forests, and decreased in the following order: Q. mongolica forest > coniferous-broadleaved P. tabuliformis mixed forest > P. tabuliformis forest. In order to enlarge the absorbing area of fine roots and increase nutrient uptake efficiency, Pinus and Quercus commonly form a symbiotic relationship with ectomycorrhizal fungi Makoto et al 2010). This was likely the main reason why fungal biomass did not differ among the forests in the 0-10 cm soil depth in our study.…”

Effects of Bentonite, Charcoal and Corncob for Soil Improvement and Growth Characteristics of Teak Seedling Planted on Acrisols in Northeast Thailand

“…In the case of teak, uptake of P is related to symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and their inoculation accelerates the uptake of P [56,57]. The presence of charcoal promotes infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [58,59] and root growth in woody species [60,61]. We consider that the presence of charcoal accelerated root growth in teak seedlings.…”

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

“…A 2013 review (Stavi 2013) noted that nearly all experiments on forest systems had examined responses to wildfireproduced charcoal or ash, rather than industrially produced biochar per se. Positive effects of chars on tree growth have been documented in boreal and sub-boreal forest systems (Wardle et al 1998;Makoto et al 2010;Robertson et al 2012;Pluchon et al 2014), with much more limited data available on temperate and tropical trees (e.g., Scharenbroch et al 2013;Sovu et al 2012;Fagbenro et al 2013). With few exceptions, the duration of experimental studies on tree responses has been short, with most studies examining seedling responses only.…”