Abstract
Despite the recent interest in biochars as soil amendments for improving soil quality and increasing soil carbon sequestration, there is inadequate knowledge on the soil amendment properties of these materials produced from different feed stocks and under different pyrolysis conditions. This is particularly true for biochars produced from animal origins. Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol). Four rates of biochar (0, 10, 25, and 50 t/ha), with and without nitrogen application (100 kg N/ha) were investigated. Both biochars, without N fertiliser, produced similar increases in dry matter yield of radish, which were detectable at the lowest application rate, 10 t/ha. The yield increase (%), compared with the unamended control rose from 42% at 10 t/ha to 96% at 50 t/ha of biochar application. The yield increases can be attributed largely to the ability of these biochars to increase N availability. Significant additional yield increases, in excess of that due to N fertiliser alone, were observed when N fertiliser was applied together with the biochars, highlighting the other beneficial effects of these biochars. In this regard, the non activated poultry litter biochar produced at lower temperature (450°C) was more effective than the activated biochar produced at higher temperature (550°C), probably due to higher available P content. Biochar addition to the hardsetting soil resulted in significant but different changes in soil chemical and physical properties, including increases in C, N, pH, and available P, but reduction in soil strength. These different effects of the 2 different biochars can be related to their different characteristics. Significantly different changes in soil biology in terms of microbial biomass and earthworm preference properties were also observed between the 2 biochars, but the underlying mechanisms require further research. Our research highlights the importance of feedstock and process conditions during pyrolysis on the properties and, hence, soil amendment values of biochars.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Poultry litter biochars without N fertiliser increased dry matter yield of radish.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Treatment
- biocharse1
- Outcome
- dry matter yield of radishe1
- Direction
- increasese1
- Comparator
- unamended controle2
- Setting
- pot triale0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e1“Both biochars, without N fertiliser, produced similar increases in dry matter yield of radish, which were detectable at the lowest application rate, 10 t/ha”
e2“The yield increase (%), compared with the unamended control rose from 42% at 10 t/ha to 96% at 50 t/ha of biochar application”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar application increased radish yield relative to the unamended control from 42% at 10 t/ha to 96% at 50 t/ha.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Treatment
- biochar applicatione2
- Outcome
- yield increase (%)e2
- Direction
- rosee2
- Value
- from 42% at 10 t/ha to 96% at 50 t/hae2
- Comparator
- unamended controle2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e2“The yield increase (%), compared with the unamended control rose from 42% at 10 t/ha to 96% at 50 t/ha of biochar application”
Claim · model-written summary
Radish yield increases from biochar are attributed largely to increased N availability.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Outcome
- yield increasese3
- Qualifier
- ability of these biochars to increase N availabilitye3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e3“The yield increases can be attributed largely to the ability of these biochars to increase N availability”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield increased significantly more when N fertiliser was applied together with the biochars than with N fertiliser alone.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Treatment
- N fertiliser was applied together with the biocharse4
- Outcome
- yielde4
- Direction
- increasese4
- Comparator
- N fertiliser alonee4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e4“Significant additional yield increases, in excess of that due to N fertiliser alone, were observed when N fertiliser was applied together with the biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
The non-activated biochar produced at 450°C was more effective than the activated biochar produced at 550°C.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Treatment
- non activated poultry litter biochar produced at lower temperature (450°C)e5
- Outcome
- more effectivee5
- Direction
- more effectivee5
- Comparator
- activated biochar produced at higher temperature (550°C)e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e5“the non activated poultry litter biochar produced at lower temperature (450°C) was more effective than the activated biochar produced at higher temperature (550°C), probably due to higher available P content”
Claim · model-written summary
The higher effectiveness of the 450°C biochar is probably due to higher available P content.
- Taxon
- radish
Raphanus sativuse0 - Compound
- available Pe5
- Outcome
- more effectivee5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Two biochars produced from poultry litter under different conditions were tested in a pot trial by assessing the yield of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Long Scarlet) as well as the soil quality of a hardsetting Chromosol (Alfisol)”
e5“the non activated poultry litter biochar produced at lower temperature (450°C) was more effective than the activated biochar produced at higher temperature (550°C), probably due to higher available P content”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar addition significantly increased soil C, N and pH.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e6“Biochar addition to the hardsetting soil resulted in significant but different changes in soil chemical and physical properties, including increases in C, N, pH, and available P, but reduction in soil strength”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar addition significantly increased soil available P.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e6“Biochar addition to the hardsetting soil resulted in significant but different changes in soil chemical and physical properties, including increases in C, N, pH, and available P, but reduction in soil strength”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar addition significantly reduced soil strength.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e6“Biochar addition to the hardsetting soil resulted in significant but different changes in soil chemical and physical properties, including increases in C, N, pH, and available P, but reduction in soil strength”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil microbial biomass and earthworm preference differed significantly between the two biochars.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e7“Significantly different changes in soil biology in terms of microbial biomass and earthworm preference properties were also observed between the 2 biochars”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · yield · Raphanus sativus (radish)Results differ
106 papers in the same direction as this paper · 3 in the opposite direction · 2 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- no effect
- negative
108 papers more in this group
See all 112 papers →biochar · yield · Raphanus sativus (radish)Results agree
2 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.