Biochar and plant-soil interactions
- Key Staff:
- Dr. Saran P. Sohi
- Funding:
- Research Council
Evidence from short-term greenhouse studies and small-scale field trials suggests that the addition of biochar to soils promotes plant yield. This has stimulated much interest in developing biochar as an effective tool in sustainable food production while simultaneously storing more carbon in the soil. Belowground, root biomass can also be increased, but further detailed assessment is lacking. This project focuses on the mechanisms controlling biochar-root interactions and the subsequent effects within the complex soil environment, such as nutrient and moisture uptake efficiency, and the potential impact on important microbial processes (e.g. respiration, decomposition and denitrification).
Currently, the project is investigating the relationship between biochar application rates and root architecture and nutrient uptake.
Publications:
Prendergast-Miller, M. and Sohi, S.P. (2010) Charcoal effects on plant roots: implications for biochar. Poster presented at the 2nd UKBRC Conference, Rothamsted, UK.
Prendergast-Miller M and Sohi SP 2010. Investigating biochar impacts on plant roots and root carbon. Poster presented in the Organic Matter Stabilization and Ecosystem Functions session at Soil Organic Matter Conference, Cote d'Azur, France (Sept. 2010).
Prendergast-Miller M.T., Duvall, M., Sohi, S.P. (2011) Localisation of nitrate in the rhizosphere of biochar-amended soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43: 2243-2246
Angst, T.E., Sohi, S.P. (2013) Establishing release dynamics for plant nutrients from biochar, GCB Bioenergy, 5:221-226
Sohi, S.P. (2012) Carbon storage with benefits, Science, 338: 1034-1035
Sohi, S.P. (2013) Pyrolysis bioenergy with biochar production – greater carbon abatement and benefits to soil, GCB Bioenergy, 5:i-iii
Prendergast-Miller, M., Duvall, M., Sohi, S.P. (2013) Biochar−root interactions are mediated by biochar nutrient content and biochar impacts on soil nutrient availability. European Journal of Soil Science 65:173-185