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Plant Response to Biochar Augmented Soils from Different Biogeographic Regions

Micekova, Zuzana
Master thesis
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/186925
Date
2012-11-14
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  • Master's theses (INA) [593]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to use plant phytometers to test whether biochar amendment

increases soil fertility. The phytometric method has the asset of measuring the actual effect of biochar treatment on changes in plant productivity instead of investigating biochar properties and its effect on soil. As plant phytometers were selected two species with contrasting life-histories.

(1) Betula pendula, which is a long-lived and relatively slow-growing perennial specie and (2)

Phacelia tanacetifolia, an annual herbaceous and relatively fast-growing specie. Soil was

collected in fairly homogenous ecosystems from 5 different biogeographic regions (i.e. alpine,

arctic, boreal, mediterranean and temperate). The biochar was prepared mainly from Pinus

sylvestris (90 %), under 450 - 500°C charring temperature.

Plant productivity differed significantly among the soils as expected. The productivity was

highest in the temperate soil and lowest in the boreal soil. However, only the temperate soil

seemed to be highly susceptible to the biochar treatment. Although there were various significant

results of the biochar treatment, there was no clear and consistent difference between the pots

augmented with biochar and the control pots without biochar. Actually, plant productivity

decreased as a result of biochar addition in some cases, which was unexpected. This suggests

that the used biochar may have had a toxic impact on the phytometer plants. The results of this

study show the need for further systematic research and development of a minimum standard characterization criteria of biochar used as a soil amendment.
Publisher
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås

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