Biochar–root interactions are mediated by biochar nutrient content and impacts on soil nutrient availability
Abstract
Summary Roots are the first point of contact between biochar particles and growing plants, yet detailed studies of biochar–root interactions are few. Biochar may affect root growth, and therefore plant performance, through two mechanisms: (i) as a direct nutrient source and (ii) through impacts on nutrient availability. To test the hypothesis that biochar–root interactions occur and are determined by biochar nutrient supply and impacts on soil nutrients, spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L .) was grown with and without biochar addition in rhizobox mesocosms. Biochar from unaltered and artificially weathered Miscanthus or willow ( Salix sp) biochar types was used and was manipulated to alter its structure and nutrient content. After 28 days of plant growth, biochar nutrient content, soil nutrient content and the amount of biochar were measured in the bulk soil, the rhizosphere and the rhizosheath. Plants in biochar‐amended soils had larger rhizosphere zones than the control treatment. The rhizosphere contained more biochar particles than the bulk soil, an indication that roots preferred soil containing biochar particles. Biochar particles retained soil nitrogen ( N ) in the form of nitrate, and also supplied phosphorus ( P ) to the soil and plant. Miscanthus biochar had a larger extractable P content than the Salix biochar, with different effects on plant growth and root responses. Although artificial physical weathering had no effect on overall plant growth, weathering effects on N retention and P content were dependent on biochar type. Our results indicate that roots are attracted towards biochar, resulting in its partitioning between bulk and rhizosphere soil. Biochar thus controls plant root nutrient acquisition directly as a nutrient source and indirectly by altering soil nutrient content.
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Addition of fresh Miscanthus or Salix biochar to soil significantly increased soil P contents, but artificially weathered biochars made no such change in a sandy loam soil at Rothamsted Research experimental farm, UK.
“The addition of fresh Miscanthus or Salix biochar to soil significantly increased soil P contents, but artificially weathered biochars made no such change in sandy loam soil of the Rothamsted Research experimental farm, United Kingdom (Prendergast-Miller et al., 2014).”
From A review on biochar modulated soil condition improvements and nutrient dynamics concerning crop yields: Pathways to climate change mitigation and global food security (2019) · cites this paper as Prendergast-Miller et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Prendergast‐Miller, M. T., Duvall, M., & Sohi, S. P.
- Affiliations
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Prendergast‐Miller, M. T.
- Venue
- European Journal of Soil Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-09-04
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 173-185
- ISSN
- 1351-0754 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2389
- OpenAlex
- W2116284427
- Cited by
- 420
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 28.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Soil Science (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Scottish Funding Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Interreg
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Keywords
- soil nutrient availability, rhizosphere, rhizosheath, root growth, spring barley, nitrogen retention, phosphorus availability
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