http://www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/62
tBJ:Anatomy of a Field Trial: Wood-based Biochar and Compost Influences a Pacific Northwest Soil Technical Abstract Biochar land application research in elevated rainfall areas (980 mm annual rainfall) of the U.S. Pacific Northwest is lacking. A proof-of-concept field study examined the effects of spruce-pine-fir wood chip biochar (slow pyrolysis; 450-500 oC; 35 Mg ha-1), dairy manure compost (105 Mg ha-1), compost + biochar (35 and 105 Mg ha-1, respectively), and a control (no biochar or compost) on glacially altered soil chemical properties and growth characteristics of vetch (Vicia spp.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L. Golden Jubilee) over a growing season. In-season liming (5.4 Mg ha-1) occurred across all the plots to raise the soil pH for adequate crop growth. Biochar, alone or applied with compost, maintained a greater amount of soil organic C and, when combined with lime, acted more effectively than control conditions at increasing soil organic C. Biochar and compost + biochar treatments reduced Mehlich-III extractable Zn and Cu concentrations, although the concentrations were an order of magnitude greater than those considered minimal for crop growth. There was no statistical difference in vetch or corn yields among treatments. However, the compost + biochar treatment did increase vetch total N and Mg content, as well as corn Cu content, as compared to other treatments. Overall, observations suggest that co-applying biochar with an organically-rich material like compost could be beneficial without compromising environmental quality. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
