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Optimizing Biochar Particle Size for Plant Growth and Mitigation of Soil Salinization
Version 1
: Received: 14 April 2023 / Approved: 17 April 2023 / Online: 17 April 2023 (04:36:59 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Tang, E.; Liao, W.; Thomas, S.C. Optimizing Biochar Particle Size for Plant Growth and Mitigation of Soil Salinization. Agronomy 2023, 13, 1394. Tang, E.; Liao, W.; Thomas, S.C. Optimizing Biochar Particle Size for Plant Growth and Mitigation of Soil Salinization. Agronomy 2023, 13, 1394.
Abstract
Pyrolyzed waste biomass, or biochar, has been suggested as a means to increase plant growth and to mitigate soil salinization, which is a widespread agricultural issue and can reach extreme levels in urban soils impacted by de-icing salts. Soil mixing is enhanced by reduced biochar particle size; however, biochar properties vary with particle size and recent studies suggest that plant growth responses may be maximized at intermediate particle sizes. We examined the responses of two plant species (cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)) to biochar amendments that spanned a wide range of particle sizes obtained by sieving, with and without de-icing salt additions. The smallest size fractions of biochar reduced plant growth relative to unamended controls. Plant biomass production was generally maximized at intermediate biochar particle size treatments, with particles sizes of 0.5-2.0 mm showing the best response. Mitigation of salt effects was also improved at intermediate biochar particle sizes in this particles size range. Our results emphasize the importance of optimizing biochar particle size to best enhance plant responses to biochar, with particular reference to saline soils.
Keywords
biochar; charcoal; pyrogenic carbon; road salt; salinity stress; plant performance
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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