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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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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1031-4