Effect of Two Different Biochars on Germination and Seedlings Growth of Salad, Cress and Barley

Authors: L. Bouqbis, H.W. Koyro, M. C. Harrouni, S. Daoud, L. F. Z. Ainlhout, C. I. Kammann

Abstract:

The application of biochar to soils is becoming more and more common. Its application which is generally reported to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils, has an indirect effect on soil health and increased crop yields. However, many of the previous results are highly variable and dependent mainly on the initial soil properties, biochar characteristics, and production conditions. In this study, two biochars which are biochar II (BC II) derived from a blend of paper sludge and wheat husks and biochar 005 (BC 005) derived from sewage sludge with a KCl additive, are used, and the physical and chemical properties of BC II are characterized. To determine the potential impact of salt stress and toxic and volatile substances, the second part of this study focused on the effect biochars have on germination of salad (Lactuca sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and cress (Lepidium sativum) respectively. Our results indicate that Biochar II showed some unique properties compared to the soil, such as high EC, high content of K, Na, Mg, and low content of heavy metals. Concerning salad and barley germination test, no negative effect of BC II and BC 005 was observed. However, a negative effect of BC 005 at 8% level was revealed. The test of the effect of volatile substances on germination of cress revealed a positive effect of BC II, while a negative effect was observed for BC 005. Moreover, the water holding capacities of biochar-sand mixtures increased with increasing biochar application. Collectively, BC II could be safely used for agriculture and could provide the potential for a better plant growth.

Keywords: Biochar, phytotoxic tests, seedlings growth, water holding capacity.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1339854

References:

[1] J. Lehmann, J. Gaunt, and M. Rondon, “Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems- a review,” Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change vol. 11, pp. 403-427, 2006.
[2] S. Shackley, S. Sohi, R. Ibarrola, J. Hammond, O. Mašek, P. Brownsort, A. Cross, M. Prendergast-Miller, and S. Haszeldine, “Biochar, tool for climate change mitigation and soil management,” In: Geoengineering Responses to Climate Change, Lenton, T., Vaughan, N. (Eds.), Springer, New York, 2013, pp. 73–140.
[3] P. Smith, “Soil carbon sequestration and biochar as negative emission technologies, ”Journal of Global change biology, vol. 22, issue 3, pp. 1315–1324, 2016.
[4] L. A. Biederman, and W.S. Harpole, “Biochar and its effects on plant productivity and nutrient cycling: A meta-analysis,” GCB Bioenergy vol. 5, pp. 202–214, 2013.
[5] D. A. Laird, R. C. Brown, J. E. Amonette, and J. Lehmann, “Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducing bio-oil and biochar,” Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref., vol. 3, pp. 547–562, 2009.
[6] Y. Wang, L. Zhang, H. Yang, G. Yan, Z. Xu, Ch. Chen, and D. Zhang, “Biochar nutrient availability rather than its water holding capacity governs the growth of both C3 and C4 plants, ”Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol. 16, issue 3, pp. 801-810, 2016.
[7] S.E. Hale, J. Lehmann, D. Rutherford, A.R. Zimmerman, R.T. Bachmann, V. Shitumbanuma, A. O’Toole, K.L. Sundqvist, H.P.H. Arp, and G. Cornelissen, “Quantifying the total and bioavailable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins in biochars,” Environ. Sci. Technol, vol. 46, pp. 2830-2838, 2012.
[8] P. Oleszczuk, I. Jo_sko, and M. Ku_smierz, “Biochar properties regarding to contaminants content and ecotoxicological assessment,” J. Hazard. Mater, vol. 260, pp. 375-382, 2013.
[9] W. Buss, and O. Masek, “Mobile organic compounds in biochar: A potential source of contamination-Phytotoxic effects on cress seed (Lepidium sativum) germination” Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 137, pp. 111-119, 2014.
[10] M. Kołtowski, and P. Oleszczuk, “Toxicity of biochars after polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal by thermal treatment,” Ecological Engineering, vol. 75, pp. 79–85, 2015.
[11] E. N. Yargicoglu, B. Y. Sadasivam, K. R. Reddy, and K. Spokas, “Physical and chemical characterization of waste wood derived biochars,” Waste Management vol. 36, pp. 256–268, 2015.
[12] D. Busch, C. Kammann, L. Grünhage, and Ch. Müller, “Simple Biotoxicity Tests for Evaluation of Carbonaceous Soil Additives: Establishment and Reproducibility of Four Test Procedures,” Journal of Environmental Quality, vol. 41, pp. 1023-1032, 2012.
[13] K.Y. Chan, L. Van Zwieten, I. Meszaros, A. Downie, and S. Joseph, “Using poultry litter biochars as soil amendments” Australian Journal of Soil Research, vol. 46, pp. 437–444, 2008.
[14] G.C. Sigua, J.M. Novak, D.W. Watts, M.G. Johnson, and K. Spokas, “Efficacies of designer biochars in improving biomass and nutrient uptake of winter wheat grown in a hard setting subsoil layer” Chemosphere, vol. 142, pp. 176–183, 2016.
[15] K. -W. Jung, K. Kim, T. –U. Jeong, and K. –H. Ahn, “Influence of pyrolysis temperature on characteristics and phosphate adsorption capability of biochar derived from waste-marine macroalgae (Undaria pinnatifida roots),” Bioresource Technology, vol. 200, pp. 1024–1028, 2016.
[16] C. I. Kammann, S. Linsel, J. W. Gößling, and H. –W. Koyro, “Influence of biochar on drought tolerance of Chenopodium quinoa Willd and on soil–plant relations” Plant Soil, vol. 345, pp. 195–210, 2011.
[17] D. Zhang, G. Pan, G. Wu, G. W. Kibue, L. Li, X. Zhang, J. Zheng, and J. Zheng, “Biochar helps enhance maize productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions under balanced fertilization in a rainfed low fertility inceptisol” Chemosphere, vol. 142, pp. 106–113, 2016.
[18] C. T. N. Cao, C. Farrella, P. E. Kristiansenc, and J. P. Rayner, “Biochar makes green roof substrates lighter and improves water supply to plants” Ecological Engineering, vol. 71, pp. 368–374. 2014.
[19] A. Obia, J. Mulder, V. Martinsen, G. Cornelissen, and T. Børresen, “In situ effects of biochar on aggregation, water retention and porosity in light-textured tropical soils” Soil and Tillage Research, vol. 155, pp. 35–44, 2016.
[20] X. Yu, C. Wu, Y. Fu, P. C. Brookes, and S. Lu, “Three-dimensional pore structure and carbon distribution of macroaggregates in biochar-amended soil,” European Journal of Soil Science, vol. 67, issue 1, pp. 109–120, 2016.
[21] F. Sun, and Sh. Lu, “Biochars improve aggregate stability, water retention, and porespace properties of clayey soil” Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, vol. 177, Issue 1, pp. 26–33, 2014.
[22] I. Bargmann, M.C. Rillig, W. Buss, A. Kruse, and M. Kuecke, “Hydrochar and biochar effects on germination of spring barley,” J. Agron. Crop Sci., vol. 199: 360-373, 2013.