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Biochar addition induced the same plant responses as elevated CO2 in mine spoil

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) limitation is one of the major constrain factors for biochar in improving plant growth, the same for elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Hence, we hypothesized that (1) biochar would induce the same plant responses as elevated CO2 under N-poor conditions; (2) elevated CO2 would decrease the potential of biochar application in improving plant growth. To test these hypotheses, we assessed the effects of pinewood biochar, produced at three pyrolytic temperatures (650, 750 and 850 °C), on C and N allocation at the whole-plant level of three plant species (Austrostipa ramossissima, Dichelachne micrantha and Isolepis nodosa) grown in the N poor mine spoil under both ambient (400 μL L−1) and elevated (700 μL L−1) CO2 concentrations. Our data showed that biochar addition (1) significantly decreased leaf total N and δ15N (P < 0.05); (2) decreased leaf total N and δ15N more pronouncedly than those of root; and (3) showed more pronounced effects on improving plant biomass under ambient CO2 than under elevated CO2 concentration. Hence, it remained a strong possibility that biochar addition induced the same plant physiological responses as elevated CO2 in the N-deficient mine spoil. As expected, elevated CO2 decreased the ability of biochar addition in improving plant growth.

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Acknowledgements

The spoil mine soil was provided by Newcastle University (Newcastle, NSW, Australia) and Thiess Pty Ltd. (Singleton, NSW, Australia) and the biochar was provided by the University of Western Australia (Perth, WA, Australia).

Funding

This work was funded by the Australian Research Council at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia) and by the Griffith University PhD scholarships and operating funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, 4111, Australia

    Yaling Zhang, Shahla Hosseini Bai, Carl Menke, Manyun Zhang & Zhihong Xu

  2. Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lake, SA, 5095, Australia

    Barbara Drigo

  3. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, 2751, Australia

    Barbara Drigo

  4. GeneCology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    Shahla Hosseini Bai

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  1. Yaling Zhang
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  2. Barbara Drigo
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  5. Manyun Zhang
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Correspondence to Yaling Zhang or Zhihong Xu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Zhang, Y., Drigo, B., Bai, S.H. et al. Biochar addition induced the same plant responses as elevated CO2 in mine spoil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 1460–1469 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0574-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0574-1

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