Abstract
Abstract Purpose Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient in many managed forests. To further understand the risks and benefits of biochars as sustainable P source in forest management, an improved mechanistic understanding of its interactions in root systems is required. Methods A rhizobox experiment was conducted to observe root response of P. sylvestris (Scots pine) seedlings to different biochars in comparison to triple superphosphate (TSP) fertiliser as a P source. Three types of wood-derived biochar were compared: biochar from mixed softwood pellets (“Reference biochar”); from the vascular cambium zone of Picea sitchensis (“VCZ biochar”) and from mixed softwood pellets infused with TSP (“Processed biochar”). These biochars presented a range of available P from low to high. Seedling root development was spatially analysed using GIS software. Results The total length of P. sylvestris roots did not significantly differ between treatments. However, seedling roots showed strong preference for soil proximal to VCZ biochar and strong avoidance to TSP fertiliser. There was a milder avoidance effect for Processed biochar. Differences in root responses could be explained by available P: roots favored a moderate, sustained P source and avoided high available P sources. The avoidance effect can be attributed partially to lower soil pH around TSP fertiliser. Conclusion The extent concentration and duration of P availability affects the root response of P. sylverstris to P sources. Under P-deficient conditions, P. sylvestris root growth was markedly improved by introducing biochar with a certain P concentration, and VCZ biochar has potential as an effective source of P in forest establishment.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Total root length did not significantly differ among phosphorus source treatments.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestris
Pinus sylvestrist0 - Treatment
- treatmentse0
- Outcome
- total length of P. sylvestris rootse0
- Direction
- did not significantly differe0
- Comparator
- between treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The total length of P. sylvestris roots did not significantly differ between treatments.”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots strongly preferred soil near VCZ biochar.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- VCZ biochare0
- Outcome
- seedling rootse0
- Direction
- strong preferencee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“seedling roots showed strong preference for soil proximal to VCZ biochar”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots strongly avoided TSP fertiliser.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- TSP fertilisere0
- Outcome
- avoidancee0
- Direction
- strong avoidancee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“strong avoidance to TSP fertiliser.”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots mildly avoided Processed biochar.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- Processed biochare0
- Outcome
- avoidance effecte0
- Direction
- milder avoidancee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was a milder avoidance effect for Processed biochar.”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots favored a moderate sustained phosphorus source and avoided high available phosphorus.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- moderate, sustained P sourcee0
- Outcome
- rootse0
- Direction
- favorede0
- Comparator
- high available P sourcese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“roots favored a moderate, sustained P source and avoided high available P sources.”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Lower soil pH around TSP fertiliser partly explained root avoidance.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- TSP fertilisere0
- Outcome
- avoidance effecte0
- Qualifier
- lower soil pHe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The avoidance effect can be attributed partially to lower soil pH around TSP fertiliser.”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar with a suitable phosphorus concentration markedly improved root growth under phosphorus deficiency.
- Taxon
- Pinus sylvestrisPinus sylvestrist0
- Treatment
- biochar with a certain P concentratione0
- Outcome
- P. sylvestris root growthe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- P-deficient conditionse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under P-deficient conditions, P. sylvestris root growth was markedly improved by introducing biochar with a certain P concentration”
t0“Pinus sylvestris”
The same questions in other papers
biochar · growth · Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)Positive and negative results
1 in the opposite direction
- negative
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.