2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Traditionally, the availability of soil water has been determined using pressure plates and similar methods; though some literature suggests that their suitability is highly dependent on soil characteristics which biochar products can modify. Prior research suggests that biochar and compost can increase the water holding capacity of soils and ameliorate water regimes under drought conditions. However, this may not translate to improved availability of this water as permanent wilting point can be reached at higher water contents. For this work we used Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) performance to indicate when irrigation was necessary and correlated soil water potential as well as gravimetric water content to evaluate the suitability of these methods as predictors of plant drought stress in biochar and compost-amended soils. The primary objective of this study was to measure the impacts of biochar and compost on soil-water dynamics while including measurements of plant performance to more accurately predict how these products can be used in the field. Irrigation frequency and quantity was determined based on plant health, allowing a determination of irrigation required by the plant rather than focusing on performance under predetermined irrigation regimes. Turfgrass was found to survive with reduced available water in amended soils, requiring less irrigation to maintain acceptable quality. Future investigations using these products should include incorporation of amendments into field soil, planting of the desired turf, and initiation of drought stress to predict true plant response.