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- Title
Biochars influence seed germination and early growth of seedlings.
- Authors
Solaiman, Zakaria; Murphy, Daniel; Abbott, Lynette
- Abstract
Background and aims: Biochar can be produced from a wide range of organic sources with varying nutrient and metal concentrations. Before making irreversible applications of biochar to soil, a preliminary ecotoxicological assessment is desirable. Methods: First, we determined the effect of biochar type and rate on early growth of wheat in a soil-less Petri dish bioassay. Second, we investigated the effect of the same biochars on seed germination and early growth of wheat in ten soils with varying texture using a glasshouse bioassay. Finally, we investigated whether these biochars had similar effects on three plant species when grown in one soil. Results: Biochar type and application rate influenced wheat seed germination and seedling growth in a similar manner in both the soil-less Petri dish and soil-based bioassay. Germination and early root growth of mung bean and subterranean clover differed from that of wheat in response to the five biochars. Conclusions: We recommend use of the soil-less Petri dish bioassay as a rapid and simple preliminary test to identify potential toxicity of biochars on seed germination and early plant growth prior to biochar application to soil.
- Subjects
GERMINATION; PLANT bioassay; WHEAT; MUNG bean; SUBTERRANEAN clover
- Publication
Plant & Soil, 2012, Vol 353, Issue 1/2, p273
- ISSN
0032-079X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11104-011-1031-4