Biochars provoke diverse soil mesofauna reproductive responses in laboratory bioassays

Marks, Evan A.N.; Mattana, Stefania; Alcañiz, Josep M.; Domene, Xavier

doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.12.002

Cited by 101 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…The bait lamina method mainly reflects mesofauna feeding activities, such as that of collembolans and enchytraeids, but also of macrofauna taxa such as earthworms. In a previous laboratory bioassay study using a nearly identical gasifier biochar and soil, biochar treatment was found to inhibit reproduction of collembolans and enchytraeids at similar or lower application rates (Marks et al, 2014b). Thus, the result from this field study agrees with (negative) effects first detected in the laboratory, and these persisted in the field at least two years following application.…”

Section: Fauna Activitysupporting

confidence: 85%

Gasifier biochar effects on nutrient availability, organic matter mineralization, and soil fauna activity in a multi-year Mediterranean trial

Marks

Mattana

Alcañiz

et al. 2016

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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Section: Fauna Activitysupporting

confidence: 85%

Gasifier biochar effects on nutrient availability, organic matter mineralization, and soil fauna activity in a multi-year Mediterranean trial

Marks

Mattana

Alcañiz

et al. 2016

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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“…However, a macrofaunal sampling established that earthworm abundance was not significantly different at the time of litterbag placement (Weyers and Spokas, 2011). This would be in agreement with other studies illustrating shortterm impacts on macrofaunal activity observed in short-term laboratory studies (i.e., months) Marks et al, 2014), but these short-term effects are not persistent in the field . This litterbag analysis did not investigate any further impact of biochar application on mesofauna activity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Crop residue decomposition in Minnesota biochar-amended plots

Weyers

Spokas

2014

Solid Earth

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Abstract. Impacts of biochar application at laboratory scales are routinely studied, but impacts of biochar application on decomposition of crop residues at field scales have not been widely addressed. The priming or hindrance of crop residue decomposition could have a cascading impact on soil processes, particularly those influencing nutrient availability. Our objectives were to evaluate biochar effects on field decomposition of crop residue, using plots that were amended with biochars made from different plant-based feedstocks and pyrolysis platforms in the fall of 2008. Litterbags containing wheat straw material were buried in July of 2011 below the soil surface in a continuous-corn cropped field in plots that had received one of seven different biochar amendments or a uncharred wood-pellet amendment 2.5 yr prior to start of this study. Litterbags were collected over the course of 14 weeks. Microbial biomass was assessed in treatment plots the previous fall. Though first-order decomposition rate constants were positively correlated to microbial biomass, neither parameter was statistically affected by biochar or wood-pellet treatments. The findings indicated only a residual of potentially positive and negative initial impacts of biochars on residue decomposition, which fit in line with established feedstock and pyrolysis influences. Overall, these findings indicate that no significant alteration in the microbial dynamics of the soil decomposer communities occurred as a consequence of the application of plant-based biochars evaluated here.

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“…Weathering alters char properties , and there is evidence that positive agronomic effects of chars can increase over multiple rotations (Major et al 2010). In addition, low molecular weight molecules, including a variety of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, are commonly sorbed during pyrolysis and gradually leached following char addition to soils, with possible species-specific toxic effects on a variety of organisms (Bastos et al 2014;Marks et al 2014;Kołtowski and Oleszczuk 2015), including plants (N. V. Gale unpublished data). It is possible that gradual leaching or microbial degradation of such compounds could also influence patterns of response over the first few years following biochar additions to soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Biochar and forest restoration: a review and meta-analysis of tree growth responses

2015

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Biochar'', or charcoal intended for use as a soil amendment, has received great attention in recent years as a means of enhancing carbon sequestration and soil properties in agricultural systems. Here we address the potential for biochar use in the context of forest restoration, reviewing relevant experimental studies on biochar use in forest ecosystems, the properties of chars generated from wood waste material, and available data on tree growth responses to biochar. To our knowledge the earliest mention of char use as a soil amendment is actually specifically in the context of forest restoration (in the 1820s in Scotland). Wood waste biochars have an unusual set of properties that suggest their applicability in a forest restoration context: namely, high recalcitrance promoting long-lasting effects, retention of cations, anions, and water, in the soil, sorptive properties that can reduce bioavailability of a wide range of toxic materials, and relative ease of production from locally available feedstocks. A meta-analysis of recent studies on biochar responses of woody plants indicates a potential for large tree growth responses to biochar additions, with a mean 41 % increase in biomass. Responses are especially pronounced at early growth stages, and appear to be higher in boreal and tropical than in temperate systems, and in angiosperms than conifers; however, there is high variability, and field studies are few. The properties of biochars also vary greatly depending on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions; while this complicates their use, it provides a means to design biochars for specific restoration situations and objectives. We conclude that there is great promise for biochar to play an important role in a wide variety of forest restoration efforts, specifically as a replacement product for other forms of organic matter and liming agents.

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Biochars provoke diverse soil mesofauna reproductive responses in laboratory bioassays

Cited by 101 publications

References 57 publications

Gasifier biochar effects on nutrient availability, organic matter mineralization, and soil fauna activity in a multi-year Mediterranean trial

Gasifier biochar effects on nutrient availability, organic matter mineralization, and soil fauna activity in a multi-year Mediterranean trial

Crop residue decomposition in Minnesota biochar-amended plots

Biochar and forest restoration: a review and meta-analysis of tree growth responses

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