Can Biochar Come to the Rescue of Coastal Barren Species? A Controlled Study Reports on the Impact of Biochar Amendment on Their Survival

Abstract

Indigenous species in coastal barren communities are subject to anthropogenic and environmental pressures; some species are in decline, and there is uncertainty about their long-term survival. The authors added supplemental soil carbon in the form of red oak biochar to calcined clay (1:9) to determine the effect of this treatment on survival of legume (Lupinus perennis and Baptisia tinctoria) and non-legume (Vaccinium angustifolium and Quercus ilicifolia) species during a period spanning two and a half seasons of unirrigated pot tests. Red oak biochar used in the experiment was produced from pyrolysis, the thermochemical devolitization and carbonization of the starting biomass. Biochar significantly affected the survival rates of all species (P=<.03). Biochartreated non-legumes had higher survival rates (P=<.10) than similarly treated legumes. Future investigations of biochars, particularly those evolved from recycled lignocellulosic wastes, associated with survival, should focus on reversal of habitat loss.

Effects of Biochar on the Growth of <i>Vachellia etbaica</i> and <i>Faidherbia albida</i> Planted in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

“…This value is similar to that observed for the controls in our experiment. These findings are in line with those of previous research, highlighting that the application of biochar can increase seedling survival (Licht et al 2014). Therefore, the application of biochar to seedlings of F. albida is linked to a decrease in plant mortality.…”

“…It reportedly improves the growth of seedlings (Makoto et al 2011, Thomas & Gale 2015, Lefebvre et al 2019, Zoghi et al 2019, Tarin et al 2020. Moreover, applying biochar to the seedlings can mitigate drought stress (Fujita et al 2020) and increase seedling survival (Licht et al 2014). Furthermore, biochar alters the physical and chemical properties and enhances microbial activity of the soil (Lehmann et al 2011, Makoto & Koike 2021.…”

Impact of lignocellulosic and hemicellulosic biochar on soil moisture in low clay soils

“…A high treatment temperature (HTT) of 580°C for cardboard and 605°C for oak was recorded about 4 h into each pyrolytic session (lasting about 6 h). After removal from the retort, biochars were wetted with 11.34 L H 2 O, subjected to 24 h of air cooling and further enhanced using 4 L H 2 O and 0.014 L 20–20–20 (JR Peters, Allentown, PA, USA) fertilizer ( Licht et al, ). After 48 h air drying, biochars were pulverized in a 1.89‐L electric blender (Hammacher‐Schlemmer, New York, NY, USA) in a single burst, 30 s treatment, sieved to < 10 mm for incubation experiments.…”

Effects of biochar on the growth of <i>Olea europaea</i> subsp. <i>cuspidata</i> and <i>Dodonaea angustifolia</i> planted in Tigray, northern Ethiopia

“…Moreover, application of biochar has been reported to increase the survival and growth of woody species 15,16,22) .…”