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Changes in soil nutrient availability explain biochar’s impact on wheat root development

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Abstract

Aims

Biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained from the pyrolysis of organic materials. Its use, combined with fertilizers, can modify soil properties and affect root morphology and functioning. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of biochar and fertilizer addition on root development and morphology.

Methods

Durum wheat was pot-grown for 2 months using two types of biochar (produced from wheat straw and olive-tree pruning) applied at four rates (0, 0.5, 1 and 2.5 % w/w) and combined with three fertilization levels (0, 40 %-low and 100 %-complete).

Results

Biochar addition at high rates increased the specific root length and decreased both root diameter and root tissue mass density, indicating a fine root proliferation, regardless of the fertilization level. This may have favoured the resource acquisition by increasing biochar-root interactions, soil exploration and the fertilizer efficacy. Biochar addition reduced N and Mn availability but increased P availability, which also influenced root growth.

Conclusions

Changes in root morphology may therefore serve as an important indicator of soil changes induced by biochar and its study can contribute to a better understanding of the effects of the combined application of biochar and fertilizers on plant growth.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (Programa Nacional de Cooperación Público-Privada, Subprograma INNPACTO) and FEDER Funds “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, una manera de hacer Europa” in the framework of the project “Proyecto Biocar: Estudio del Biocarbón como Sumidero de Carbono” (IPT-440000-2010-8). Thanks to V. Barrón for his comments aimed at improving the manuscript and to J. Torrent, M.C. del Campillo, A. Gallardo, L. Gómez and A. Serrano for their contribution to the project development. We also thank to the reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions which led to substantial improvements in the manuscript.

Compliance with ethical standards

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they do not have conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Ecología, Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio C-4 “Celestino Mutis”, Campus de Rabanales, Ctra. Madrid, km. 396, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Manuel Olmo, Rafael Villar & José Antonio Alburquerque

  2. Departamento de Química, Universidad de Piura (UDEP), Av. Ramón Mujica, s/n, Piura, Perú

    Pablo Salazar

Authors
  1. Manuel Olmo
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  2. Rafael Villar
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  3. Pablo Salazar
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  4. José Antonio Alburquerque
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manuel Olmo.

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Responsible Editor: Simon Jeffery.

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Olmo, M., Villar, R., Salazar, P. et al. Changes in soil nutrient availability explain biochar’s impact on wheat root development. Plant Soil 399, 333–343 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2700-5

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