Biochar for sand-based root-zone modification

Christians, Nick

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/107011 Copy

Description

Title

Biochar for sand-based root-zone modification

Author(s)

Christians, Nick

Issue Date

2013-06-14

Keyword(s)

• biochar
• sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Nick Christians – Professor, Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Sand-based turfgrass root zones have limited nutrient retention and water-holding capacity. Peat moss often is used to offset these deficiencies, but peat moss decomposes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of biochar as a sand-based root zone amendment. Water retention, water infiltration, bentgrass rooting depth, and nutrient evaluation experiments were conducted on six sand and biochar root zone mixtures. At field capacity, sand-based media containing 25% biochar retained 260 and 370% more water compared to media containing 5% biochar and a pure sand control, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) of the root zones decreased as biochar concentrations increased. The rooting depth of bentgrass was reduced up to 46% at biochar concentrations greater than 10%. Leachate electrical conductivity and dissolved total organic carbon increased as biochar concentrations increased. Nitrogen leaching was reduced as biochar concentrations increased. According to the results, biochar may improve water storage, reduce overall water use, and decrease nitrogen fertilizer applications in sand-based turfgrass ecosystems.

Series/Report Name or Number

2013 Midwest Biochar Conference

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• https://youtu.be/pd5cE4nPd2U
• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107011

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