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Ethylene: potential key for biochar amendment impacts

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Abstract

Significant increases in root density, crop growth and productivity have been observed following soil additions of biochar, which is a solid product from the pyrolysis of biomass. In addition, alterations in the soil microbial dynamics have been observed following biochar amendments, with decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) respiration, suppression of methane (CH4) oxidation and reduction of nitrous oxide (N2O) production. However, there has not been a full elucidation of the mechanisms behind these effects. Here we show data on ethylene production that was observed from biochar and biochar-amended soil. Ethylene is an important plant hormone as well as an inhibitor for soil microbial processes. Our current hypothesis is that the ethylene is biochar derived, with a majority of biochars exhibiting ethylene production even without soil or microbial inoculums. There was increased ethylene production from non-sterile compared to sterile soil (215%), indicating a role of soil microbes in the observed ethylene production. Production varied with different biomass sources and production conditions. These observations provide a tantalizing insight into a potential mechanism behind the biochar effects observed, particularly in light of the important role ethylene plays in plant and microbial processes.

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Notes

  1. Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. DuSaire, T. Phan, L. Watson, and L. Endo for their technical laboratory assistance. This work is part of the United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) Biochar and Pyrolysis Initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, 1991 Upper Buford Circle – 439 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Kurt A. Spokas & John M. Baker

  2. Department of Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Kurt A. Spokas & John M. Baker

  3. United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Morris, MN, USA

    Donald C. Reicosky

Authors
  1. Kurt A. Spokas
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  2. John M. Baker
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  3. Donald C. Reicosky
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Correspondence to Kurt A. Spokas.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

Donald C. Reicosky-retired.

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Spokas, K.A., Baker, J.M. & Reicosky, D.C. Ethylene: potential key for biochar amendment impacts. Plant Soil 333, 443–452 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0359-5

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