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Macroscopic Observation of Biotic-Abiotic Interactions in Biochar Layers Within a Sandy Soil in a Pot Trial with Wheat Triticum aestivum

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Processes and Phenomena on the Boundary Between Biogenic and Abiogenic Nature

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences ((LNESS))

Abstract

Biochar amendment of soils is an ancient technology which has attracted a lot of recent attention from soil scientists and environmentalists as a possible way to sequester carbon from the atmosphere in the soil, whilst increasing soil fertility. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was grown for twelve weeks in pots were pine derived biochar was placed in two distinct layers within a sandy soil. The sandy and biochar layers were separated at harvesting to assess plant root growth, microbial biomass and degree of mycorrhizal root colonization. The biochar layers formed preferred zones for root development (P = 0.039) and microbial proliferation (P < 0.001) compared to the sandy layers. However, the degree of root mycorrhizal colonization decreased slightly in the two biochar layers and in the sandy layer between them, relative to the sandy layers above and below. The decrease in mycorrhizal colonization was possibly due to the enhancing effect that biochar has on water and nutrient retention. Furthermore, the physical and chemical characteristics of the biochar layers differed markedly from the sandy layers in terms of pH, cation exchange capacity, total C and available P. These factors have a strong influence on the micro-climate and nutrient status of each layer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank S&P Carbon for the donation of the biochar used in the trial. We would also like to thank Makhosazana Sika for characterising the biochar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University, P/Bag XI, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Charl F. Olivier, Andrei B. Rozanov & Ailsa G. Hardie

  2. Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, P/Bag XI, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Ian L. Belford, Leandra Moller & Alf Botha

Authors
  1. Charl F. Olivier
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  2. Ian L. Belford
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  3. Leandra Moller
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  4. Andrei B. Rozanov
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  5. Alf Botha
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  6. Ailsa G. Hardie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrei B. Rozanov .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crystallography, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Olga V. Frank-Kamenetskaya

  2. Department of Botany, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Dmitry Yu. Vlasov

  3. Department of Geochemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Elena G. Panova

  4. Department of Physical Geography and Landscape Planning, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    Sofia N. Lessovaia

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Olivier, C.F., Belford, I.L., Moller, L., Rozanov, A.B., Botha, A., Hardie, A.G. (2020). Macroscopic Observation of Biotic-Abiotic Interactions in Biochar Layers Within a Sandy Soil in a Pot Trial with Wheat Triticum aestivum. In: Frank-Kamenetskaya, O., Vlasov, D., Panova, E., Lessovaia, S. (eds) Processes and Phenomena on the Boundary Between Biogenic and Abiogenic Nature. Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21614-6_21

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