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Biochar Changes Shoot Growth and Root Distribution of Soybean during Early Vegetative Stages
Author(s) -
ReyesCabrera Joel,
Leon Ramon G.,
Erickson John. E.,
Silveira Maria L.,
Rowland Diane L.,
Morgan Kelly T.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2016.01.0075
Subject(s) - biochar , agronomy , lysimeter , biology , soil water , greenhouse , shoot , horticulture , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , pyrolysis
A better understanding of changes in root growth and distribution when soil is treated with biochar is needed. The aim of this study was to assess root distribution responses when biochar is added to the soil. A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the effects of topdressing or incorporating four biochar rates on soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] root distribution during early vegetative stages grown in lysimeters (depth: 35 cm). On average, topdressing either 10 or 25 Mg biochar ha −1 increased root length density (RLD) 39% and root surface area (RSA) 36% in the 0‐ to 0.05‐m soil layer compared with the control. In the 0.05‐ to 0.15‐m soil layer, incorporation of 10 Mg ha −1 increased RLD 35%. Similarly, incorporation of either 10 or 25 Mg biochar ha −1 increased RSA 38% compared with the control. Incorporation of 25 and 50 Mg biochar ha −1 in the top 0.15 m of soil increased leaf area 29 and 31% compared with topdressing 50 Mg biochar ha −1 and with the control, respectively. Biochar increased soybean RLD, RSA, and leaf area, especially when incorporated into the soil. Overall, our findings indicate that biochar application and placement within the soil affects plant‐rooting distribution, which represents an important management practice to increase RLD and RSA. Future research should focus on evaluating biochar rates and application methods under field conditions.