Abstract
A wheat seedling rhizobox approach was used to differentiate between the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere (bulk) soil amended with low and high rates of biochar (20 and 60 t ha-1 vs. control). Nitrate (NO3 -) was added as the main nitrogen (N) source because emerging biochar research points to reduced NO3 - loss through leaching and gaseous loss as nitrous oxide. The rhizosphere under the different treatments were distinct (P = 0.021), with greater soil-NO3 - and biochar-NO3 - contents in the high biochar treatment. Biochar addition increased wheat root length ratio (P = 0.053) and lowered root N uptake (P = 0.017), yet plant biomass and N content were similar between treatments. The results indicate localisation of NO3 - within the rhizosphere of biochar-amended soils which has implications for NO3 - loss and improved nitrogen use efficiency.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2243-2246 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Early online date | 4 Aug 2011 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biochar
- Charcoal
- Nitrate
- Nutrient availability
- Plant root architecture
- Rhizobox
- Rhizosphere