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Biochars influence seed germination and early growth of seedlings

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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.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Australian Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). We thank VERVE Pty Ltd, WA for supplying ‘Oil Mallee’, Mr Jerome Mathews for the ‘rice husk’, SIMCOA Pty Ltd, WA for the ‘Simcoa’, Rainbow Bee Eaters for supplying ‘Wheat Chaff’ and Dr Paul Blackwell for ‘Wundowie’ biochars. We thank Dr Ian Abbott for commenting on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Biology Group, School of Earth and Environment (M087), UWA Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Zakaria M. Solaiman, Daniel V. Murphy & Lynette K. Abbott

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  1. Zakaria M. Solaiman
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  2. Daniel V. Murphy
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  3. Lynette K. Abbott
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Correspondence to Zakaria M. Solaiman.

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Responsible Editor: Johannes Lehmann.

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Solaiman, Z.M., Murphy, D.V. & Abbott, L.K. Biochars influence seed germination and early growth of seedlings. Plant Soil 353, 273–287 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1031-4

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