Effects of Biochar on Yield, Nutrient Recovery, and Soil Properties in a Canola (Brassica napus L)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) Rotation Grown under Controlled Environmental Conditions

Additive effects due to biochar and endophyte application enable soybean to enhance nutrient uptake and modulate nutritional parameters

“…However, the high P availability in BC-amended soil detected in our study supports the findings of Zhai et al (2015) but contradicts those of Ahmed and Schoenau (2015). The reason for this discrepancy with Ahmed and Schoenau (2015) may be differences in the characteristics of the feedstock used, the pyrolysis process used for BC preparation, or soil temperature conditions. BC derived from various feed stock sources exhibits high variation in nutrient content; thus BC sourced from a different feed stock may show the same or opposite behavior.…”

“…BC also indirectly enhances soil nutrient availability by modifying soil structure, reducing Al 3+ solubility, increasing soil pH, and increasing cation exchange capacity (Martinsen et al, 2014;Waqas et al, 2014;Zhao et al, 2014;Butnan et al, 2015). However, the high P availability in BC-amended soil detected in our study supports the findings of Zhai et al (2015) but contradicts those of Ahmed and Schoenau (2015). The reason for this discrepancy with Ahmed and Schoenau (2015) may be differences in the characteristics of the feedstock used, the pyrolysis process used for BC preparation, or soil temperature conditions.…”

“…BC is the product of the slow pyrolysis of biomass, and its properties vary depending on certain factors such as feedstock type, time, and temperature conditions during preparation (de Corato et al, 2015;Gwenzi et al, 2015;Li et al, 2015). However, incorporating BC into soil proved to operate as a conditioner, by improving soil fertility through increasing soil organic C levels and nutrient availability (releasing its own nutrients and cycling existing nutrients in the soil and preventing their leaching), transforming phosphorus (P), enhancing soil field capacity, and decreasing bulk density (Ahmed and Schoenau, 2015;Bayabil et al, 2015;Dong et al, 2015;Gwenzi et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2015). The large surface area and negative charges of BC immobilize nitrogen (N) and reduce N pollution (Dong et al, 2015).…”

The potential of biochar for reducing the negative effects of soil contamination on the phytochemical properties and heavy metal accumulation in wheat grain

“…Maru et al (2015) showed that in an acidic soil (pH 5.3) co-application of biochar (5 t ha ) with 100% and 75% urea recommendation rates significantly increased nutrient availability (especially P and K) and significantly increased rice growth variables and grain yield. In the study by Ahmed and Schoenau (2015), biochar (1-2 t ha the availability of N and P, and its effects on soil pH, organic carbon and electrical conductivity were minor; it increased the yield of the crops studied only in some treatments. In the study by Schimmelpfennig et al (2015) interactions between the carbon amendments (uncarbonized feedstock, hydrochar, biochar from Miscanthus giganteus) with slurry did not occur, neither improving nor worsening the efficiency of nutrient use.…”

“…The application of biochar to soil changes its structure as well as the distribution, size and density of pores; it changes soil aeration and water retention capacity. Due to its low susceptibility to biodegradation, porosity and large active surface, biochar added to soil changes its bulk density for several years and increases the net soil surface area and nutrient retention (Ding et al 2010, Spokas et al 2012, Clough et al 2013, Ahmed and Schoenau 2015. This can lead to increased yield potential (with yield increases of 10-12%) (Biederman and Harpole 2013).…”