Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

Biochar properties, influence on plant growth and nutrient uptake

First Authora; Second Authorb;Presenting Authora; Corresponding Author a*

aFirst Affiliation, Address, Country; bSecond Affiliation, Address, Country

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Key words:Biochar, Conference, Template (maximum 3 words with up 30 characters each)

Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

Introduction

Soils with biochar are found to be more fertile than those without biochar [1,2], but the results are not always in consistence [3]. Is biocharable to promote plant growth, and are there any retionship between biochar’s properties and plant growth.

Results and Discussions

Results showed that biochar recovery rates decreased with rising temperature: y = -0.0446T + 59.614, R2 = 0.8927. Water soluble P in biochar under 400 and 450℃ was significantly 67% higher than those under between 250 and 350℃, however when temperature was 500℃, water soluble P was significantly lower than those under 400 and 450℃, but still higher than those under 250 to 350℃.Similar water soluble P contents were found in biochar pyrolyzed under 250 ℃as under 350℃, and under400℃ as 450℃, respectively. pH increased with rising temperature, but water absorb capacity decreased with rising temperature. Maize height was significantly shorter at high biochar amendment treatment (144 g kg-1 dry soil)than low (7.2 g kg-1 dry soil) and zero biochar amendments on day 13-43 after sowing, after 54 days,the impeding effect disappeared. The impeding effects were probablly related with the high pH.

Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

Figure 1. Dynamics of maize growth after biochar and straw amendments. CK, 3.4 straw, 1.3 BC, 6.5 BC, and 26 BC refer to no straw and biochar, 3.4 g straw kg-1 soil, 1.3 g kg-1 biochar, 6.5 g kg-1 biochar and26 g kg-1 biochar, respectively.

Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

No significant effects of biochar amendment on maize dry weitht were found after 59 days.

Soil available P and K increased with biochar amendment.The biochar amendment increased maize aboveground and belowground N content, but the difference was not statistically signifiant. Similar maize P and K contents were found in different treatment.

Conclusions

Biochar amendment did not promote maize growth in short period.

Acknowledgements

We wish to express our thanks to the Blue Moon Foundation (USA), ChineseAcademy of Sciences and Ministry of Science and Technology for finantial support.

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1Lehmann J, 2007. A handful carbon. Nature, 447, 143-144.

2Renner R., 2007. Rethinking biochar. Environmental Sci. Tech., 5329-5933.

3Asai H., Benjamin K. S., Haefele M. S. et al. 2009. Biochar amendment techniques for upland rice production in Northern Laos. 1. Soil physical properties, leaf SPAD, and grain yield. Field Crop Research, 111, 81-84

Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing

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Biochar Res Dev & appl

Oct. 10-15, 2011, Nanjing