Search and Access Archived Conference Presentations

The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference

4475:
Effects of Biochar On Nutrient Leaching and Plant Growth

Monday, August 2, 2010
Springs F & G
Elizabeth F. Crutchfield, Dept. of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
Donald J. Merhaut, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA
Milton E. McGiffen Jr., Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
Edith B. Allen, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA
Biochar is a soil/substrate amendment that has been shown to improve plant growth and adsorb certain chemicals very effectively.  Different amounts of biochar were with planting media to determine the effects of the product on nutrient leaching and plant growth. The treatments included a biochar-less control, a 10% by volume disk of biochar situated at the bottom of the pot, 10%, 20% and 30% by volume treatments where the biochar was incorporated into the potting mix.  The ammonium, nitrate and phosphorus concentrations in the leachate were measured once a week, and the growth of the plants were measured at the end of the twelve week period.  The effects of biochar on nitrogen and phosphorus leaching and growth will be discussed.
See more of: Nursery Crops 1 Poster
See more of: Oral and Poster Abstracts