The Influence of Biochar, Slow-Release Molasses, and an Organic N:P:K Fertilizer on Transplant Survival of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’

Schaffert, Emma; Percival, Glynn C.

doi:10.48044/jauf.2016.009

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…The application of biochar as a soil amendment has been shown to enhance transplant survival of young trees, improve root growth and health of mature established trees, reduce soil compaction, and reduce the severity of root pathogens such as Armillaria and Phytophthora (Scharenbroch et al 2013;Schaffert and Percival 2016;Blanco-Canqui 2017;Yoo et al 2020;Schaffert et al 2022). Results of this study, however, show little improvement in soil quality when biochar was added via vertical mulching.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

The Influence of Soil Decompaction and Amendments on Soil Quality

Percival¹,

Graham²,

Franklin³

2023

isa

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Urban soil is often compacted during anthropogenic activities, which presents a challenging substrate for tree growth. Two techniques for decompacting soils (air spading and vertical mulching) were evaluated alone and in combination with the soil amendment biochar and/or a woodchip mulch. Effects on soil quality (bulk density, organic matter, vegetation ground cover, cotton strip degradation, root dry mass, and earthworm counts) were monitored over 5 years. A combined treatment of air spading, biochar, and a woodchip mulch layer proved optimal in improving the soil quality of a heavily compacted soil over the 5-year period. This treatment was, however, the most expensive and time-consuming. A woodchip mulch was the most effective of the individual treatments and the most cost-effective. Air spading alone proved reasonably effective in improving soil quality over the 5-year study period. Effects of air spading could be improved by addition of a woodchip mulch. Vertical mulching alone or in combination with biochar had little influence on soil quality over 5 years. Results demonstrated that effective long-term soil decompaction measures exist for arborists to improve compacted soils.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

The Influence of Soil Decompaction and Amendments on Soil Quality

Percival¹,

Graham²,

Franklin³

2023

isa

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“…Some positive impacts of joint application between biochar and a proprietary NPK 9-6-3 organic fertilizer were also observed when studying tree growth of Pyrus communis 'Williams' Bon Chrétien' (Schaffert and Percival, 2016). Combining the above products enhanced fruit yield per tree and canopy coverage by 12%-49% respectively and also increased tree vitality [chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthetic rates] compared to the use of each amendment individually (Schaffert and Percival, 2016). In the Singapore urban environment, combined compost and biochar application yielded positive benefits on tree health and growth of Suregada multiflora and Samanea saman trees, whereas biochar applied alone showed a greater improvement in soil conditions only (Ghosh et al, 2015).…”

Section: Combination Of Biochar and Other Amendmentsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…It was noted that greater synergetic effects of biochar and fertilizer addition were present with the early successional tree species Guazuma crinita. Some positive impacts of joint application between biochar and a proprietary NPK 9-6-3 organic fertilizer were also observed when studying tree growth of Pyrus communis 'Williams' Bon Chrétien' (Schaffert and Percival, 2016). Combining the above products enhanced fruit yield per tree and canopy coverage by 12%-49% respectively and also increased tree vitality [chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthetic rates] compared to the use of each amendment individually (Schaffert and Percival, 2016).…”

Section: Combination Of Biochar and Other Amendmentsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…maximowiczii A. Henry) through improved cation exchange capacity when compared to vermiculite and peat (Headlee et al, 2014). Pear (Pyrus communis) trees showed similar reactions to transplanting into biochar amended soils, with a 20% reduction in mortality, a significant increase in tree crown size by 28%, and improvements in leaf photosynthetic efficiency of 32% compared with untreated trees (Schaffert and Percival, 2016).…”

Section: Root System Growthmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…However, the lifting and processing of bare-rooted stock often decrease root mass and quality of root architecture (Watson and Himelick, 1997;Wilson et al, 2007). The result is a loss in root absorptive area (Watson and Himelick, 1997), the negative impact of which may be alleviated by biochar addition (Schaffert and Percival, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Influence of Biochar Soil Amendment on Tree Growth and Soil Quality: A Review for the Arboricultural Industry

Schaffert¹,

Lukáč²,

Percival³

et al. 2022

AUF

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Studies assessing the effects of biochar used as a soil amendment in agriculture and forestry have indicated variable results, from significant improvements in growth and health to no effect at all. Research into biochar use for trees within the urban landscape is extremely limited. This review is aimed at arboricultural practitioners and professionals involved in urban tree landscape management and provides a critical analysis of the use of biochar to support tree health and establishment. Biochar, specifically wood biomass-based biochar, has the potential to enhance tree establishment and survival. However, considerable variability in the physical and chemical properties of biochar currently limits universal application. Therefore, practitioners should aim to use biochar types suitable for the desired function, such as transplant establishment, remediation of declining mature trees, and pest/disease management. Biochar also represents a promising complementary amendment to more established soil management techniques such as mulching and fertilization, but further long-term studies in a range of conditions typical of urban environments are required to fully understand the effects of specific biochar types on urban trees.

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Influence of biochar on the vegetative and generative growth of ‘Meredith’ peach trees

Frąc¹,

Sas-Paszt²,

Sitarek³

2022

asphc

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Many studies have confirmed positive effect of biochar as a soil conditioner that can increase in a short time the amount of organic matter (SO) and the reserves of organic carbon (OC) in the soil. The use of biochar also contributes to eliminating the effects of soil fatigue, especially in perennial fruit crops. In our study, biochar was applied in the spring of 2014 in the cultivation of one-year-old peach trees of the cultivar Meredith. Biochar, an organic fertilizer, and microbiologically enriched compost were applied to the arable soil layer. In the experiment, three combinations with biochar were used: (1) biochar at 1.6 kg/tree, (2) biochar at 1.6 kg/tree + microbiologically enriched compost at 0.3 kg/tree, (3) biochar at 1.6 kg/tree + an organic fertilizer at 0.2 kg/tree. In the first growing season, no positive changes were found after the use of biochar. The highest number and yield of fruits in 2015 were obtained from the trees that were treated with microbiologically enriched compost, and the lowest in the combination where biochar + organic fertilizer were used to treat the peach trees. In 2016, the largest number of fruits and their greatest weight were recorded for the trees treated with biochar + organic fertilizer, whereas the control trees produced the lowest yields. The use of biochar with microorganisms and biochar with organic fertilizer improved the vegetative growth of trees compared to the growth of control trees.

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The Influence of Biochar, Slow-Release Molasses, and an Organic N:P:K Fertilizer on Transplant Survival of Pyrus communis ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

The Influence of Soil Decompaction and Amendments on Soil Quality

The Influence of Soil Decompaction and Amendments on Soil Quality

The Influence of Biochar Soil Amendment on Tree Growth and Soil Quality: A Review for the Arboricultural Industry

Influence of biochar on the vegetative and generative growth of ‘Meredith’ peach trees

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