Abstract
Several studies have shown that adding biochar as soil amendment to agricultural land can increase the sustainability and productivity of cropping systems by sequestrating C from the atmosphere into the soil, by minimizing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), by improving soil properties and soil fertility via its effects on porosity, particle aggregation, soil structure, water and nutrients retention, and by improving microbial activity and plant health. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that biochar amendment to different types of soil enhances soil microbial activity, mycorrhizal colonization, plant nutrient availability, plant growth, productivity and reduces GHG when fertilizers are applied monthly or bi-monthly. The experiment consisted of 36 experimental units (e.u.) randomized in a complete block design with 3 replicates. The following organic soils were investigated: 1) a loam, 2) a sandy loam, 3) a sandy soil, 4) a muck soil, 5) a reconstituted organic soil with 40% air porosity and 6) a peat soil amended with sawdust. Half of the e.u. were amended with 10-20% (v/v) biochar (balsam fir + white and black spruces). Tomato plants 'Trust' were cultivated during three growing seasons (February/May to October 2012, 2013, and 2014). The crop was fertilized at 4-week (May to July) and 2-week (August to October) intervals using certified organic amendments. Irrigation was controlled for each soil based on the matric potential measured at 15-cm depth. Effluents from each container were collected and their nutrient content analyzed. Regardless the type of soil, our results showed that biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity expressed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein (FDA) by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014), and led to lower (~16%, 2012-13) and greater soil CO2 efflux (~11 and 21% when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectively). No significant effect of biochar on root colonisation by mycorrhizae was observed. However, adding biochar to organic soils reduced by 30% (10% v/v) and 50% (20% v/v) the earthworm population. Soils amended with biochar had higher soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn), except for Ca which concentration was equal to control soils and NH4 and Zn which were lower. Biochar amendment reduced by 30% (10% v/v) to 50% (20% v/v) the NO3 content in the leachate. Plant growth, crop yield and leaf mineral content were not influenced by biochar amendment. In conclusion, biochar amendment to different organic soils increased soil biological activity and N retention resulting in lower N leaching and improved crop system sustainability, which might in the long term have beneficial effects on crop performance.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity in the greenhouse tomato crop by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014).
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- biochar amendmente1
- Outcome
- soil microbial activitye1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Value
- 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014)e1
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e1“biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity expressed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein (FDA) by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment lowered soil CO2 efflux by about 16% in 2012-13.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente1
- Outcome
- soil CO2 effluxe2
- Direction
- lowere2
- Value
- ~16%e2
- Qualifier
- 2012-13e2
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e1“biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity expressed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein (FDA) by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014)”
e2“led to lower (~16%, 2012-13) and greater soil CO2 efflux (~11 and 21% when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectively)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment increased soil CO2 efflux by about 11% when fertilizers were provided at 4-week intervals.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente1
- Outcome
- soil CO2 effluxe2
- Direction
- greatere2
- Value
- ~11e2
- Qualifier
- when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectivelye2
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e1“biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity expressed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein (FDA) by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014)”
e2“led to lower (~16%, 2012-13) and greater soil CO2 efflux (~11 and 21% when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectively)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment increased soil CO2 efflux by about 21% when fertilizers were provided at 2-week intervals.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente1
- Outcome
- soil CO2 effluxe2
- Direction
- greatere2
- Value
- 21%e2
- Qualifier
- when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectivelye2
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e1“biochar amendment increased soil microbial activity expressed by the hydrolysis of fluorescein (FDA) by 14-27% (2013) and 26-41% (2014)”
e2“led to lower (~16%, 2012-13) and greater soil CO2 efflux (~11 and 21% when fertilizers were provided at 4- and 2-week intervals, respectively)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment had no significant effect on root colonisation by mycorrhizae in tomato.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- biochare3
- Outcome
- root colonisation by mycorrhizaee3
- Direction
- No significant effecte3
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e3“No significant effect of biochar on root colonisation by mycorrhizae was observed”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding biochar to organic soils reduced the earthworm population by 30% at 10% v/v.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- adding biochar to organic soilse4
- Outcome
- earthworm populatione4
- Direction
- reducede4
- Value
- 30%e4
- Qualifier
- 10% v/ve4
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e4“adding biochar to organic soils reduced by 30% (10% v/v) and 50% (20% v/v) the earthworm population”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding biochar to organic soils reduced the earthworm population by 50% at 20% v/v.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- adding biochar to organic soilse4
- Outcome
- earthworm populatione4
- Direction
- reducede4
- Value
- 50%e4
- Qualifier
- 20% v/ve4
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e4“adding biochar to organic soils reduced by 30% (10% v/v) and 50% (20% v/v) the earthworm population”
Claim · model-written summary
Soils amended with biochar had higher soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn).
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Soils amended with biochare5
- Outcome
- soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn)e5
- Direction
- highere5
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e5“Soils amended with biochar had higher soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn), except for Ca which concentration was equal to control soils and NH4 and Zn which were lower”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil Ca content in biochar-amended soils was equal to control soils.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Soils amended with biochare5
- Outcome
- Cae5
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede5
- Comparator
- control soilse5
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e5“Soils amended with biochar had higher soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn), except for Ca which concentration was equal to control soils and NH4 and Zn which were lower”
Claim · model-written summary
Soils amended with biochar had lower NH4 and Zn content.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Soils amended with biochare5
- Outcome
- NH4 and Zne5
- Direction
- lowere5
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e5“Soils amended with biochar had higher soil mineral content (NO3, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn), except for Ca which concentration was equal to control soils and NH4 and Zn which were lower”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment reduced the NO3 content in the leachate by 30% at 10% v/v.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Biochar amendmente6
- Outcome
- NO3 content in the leachatee6
- Direction
- reducede6
- Value
- 30%e6
- Qualifier
- 10% v/ve6
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e6“Biochar amendment reduced by 30% (10% v/v) to 50% (20% v/v) the NO3 content in the leachate”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment reduced the NO3 content in the leachate by 50% at 20% v/v.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- Biochar amendmente6
- Outcome
- NO3 content in the leachatee6
- Direction
- reducede6
- Value
- 50%e6
- Qualifier
- 20% v/ve6
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e6“Biochar amendment reduced by 30% (10% v/v) to 50% (20% v/v) the NO3 content in the leachate”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar amendment did not influence plant growth, crop yield or leaf mineral content of tomato.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicumt0
- Treatment
- biochar amendmente7
- Outcome
- Plant growth, crop yield and leaf mineral contente7
- Direction
- not influencede7
- Setting
- greenhouset0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“organic greenhouse tomato crops”
e7“Plant growth, crop yield and leaf mineral content were not influenced by biochar amendment”
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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.