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Biochar compound fertilisers increase plant potassium uptake 2 years after application without additional organic fertiliser

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Abstract

Biochar compound fertilisers (BCFs) are an emerging technology that combine biochar with nutrients, clays and minerals and can be formulated to address specific issues in soil-plant systems. However, knowledge of BCF performance over consecutive crops and without re-application is limited. This study aims to assess the residual effect of organic BCFs soil-plant nutrient cycling 2 years after application and without additional fertiliser inputs. We applied BCFs and biochar with organic fertiliser amendments and established a crop of ginger and a second crop of turmeric (Curcuma longa) without re-application or additional fertilisation. All treatment formulations included bamboo-biochar and organic fertiliser amendments; however, two novel BCFs were formulated to promote agronomic response in an intensive cropping system. We report here on the effect of treatments on soil and plant macronutrient and micronutrient cycling and turmeric growth, biomass and yield at harvest. Both BCFs (enriched (10 t ha−1) and organo-mineral biochar (8.6 t ha−1) increased foliar K (+155% and +120%) and decreased foliar Mg (−20% and −19%) concentration compared with all other treatments, suggesting antagonism between K and Mg. Plants were limited for K, P and B at harvest but not N, Ca or Mg. Foliar K was dependent on the biochar formulation rather than the rate of application. Biochar-clay aggregates increased K retention and cycling in the soil solution 2 years after application. Clay blended BCFs reduced K limitation in turmeric compared to biochar co-applied with organic amendments, suggesting these blends can be used to manage organic K nutrition. All formulations and rates of biochar increased leaf biomass and shoot-to-root ratio. Novel BCFs should be considered as an alternative to co-applying biochar with organic fertiliser amendments to decrease application rates and increase economic feasibility for farmers. Applying BCFs without re-application or supplementary fertiliser did not provide sufficient K or P reserves in the second year for consecutive cropping. Therefore, supplementary fertilisation is recommended to avoid nutrient deficiency and reduced yield for consecutive organic rhizome crops.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Mr. Michael B Farrar was supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast and received an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship to undertake this research. We thank Mt. Mellum Horticulture for provision of seed rhizomes, farm access and facility support. We thank anonymous referees, and we acknowledge Mr. Geoffrey Lambert, Mrs. Emma Farrar and Mr. Bruce Randall for assistance in field work.

Funding

MF was supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast and received an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship to undertake this research. MF received support from Mt. Mellum Horticulture via donation of turmeric rhizomes, nursery space and facility support including irrigation infrastructure and water.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genecology Research Centre, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    Michael B. Farrar, Thi Thu Nhan Nguyen & Shahla Hosseini Bai

  2. Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, School of Environment and Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Helen M. Wallace, Cheng-Yuan Xu, Stephen Joseph & Shahla Hosseini Bai

  3. School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bundaberg, QLD, 4760, Australia

    Cheng-Yuan Xu

  4. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Stephen Joseph

  5. Faculty of Environment, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Thi Thu Nhan Nguyen

  6. School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    Peter K. Dunn

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  1. Michael B. Farrar
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  2. Helen M. Wallace
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  7. Shahla Hosseini Bai
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Contributions

MF managed the study, conducted fieldwork and data analysis, interpretation of results writing and revision of the manuscript. HW assisted with research design and revision of the manuscript. CX assisted with research design and field work. SJ assisted with research design. TTN assisted with field work and manuscript revision. PD assisted with statistical analysis and revision of the manuscript. SHB supervised MF, assisted with research design, field work and was a contributor in writing and revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Michael B. Farrar.

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MF is a part owner of Mt Mellum Horticulture where the study took place. No financial gain will be received through publication of this manuscript. MF did not influence the results, and all data and interpretations have been independently assessed.

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Farrar, .B., Wallace, H.M., Xu, CY. et al. Biochar compound fertilisers increase plant potassium uptake 2 years after application without additional organic fertiliser. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 7170–7184 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16236-9

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