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High surface area biochar negatively impacts herbicide efficacy

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Amendment of soil by biochar may reduce efficacy of soil-applied herbicides due to sorption.

Methods

Bioassays with Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis) tested the influence of two biochars on phytoavailability of S-metolachlor and sulfentrazone under biochar amendment of 0, 13, 26 and 52 Mg ha-1.

Results

Adsorption of both herbicides was an order of magnitude greater on a high specific surface area (SSA) biochar (EUC-800; SSA 242 m2 g-1) than on a low SSA biochar (BC-1; SSA 3.6 m2 g-1). Herbicide doses near the lowest recommended label rates controlled the weed at 13 and 26 Mg ha-1 of BC-1; sulfentrazone was also effective at 52 Mg BC-1 ha-1. These same herbicide doses controlled weed germination and development only at 13 Mg ha-1 of EUC-800; at herbicide doses near the highest label rates, weed control was also achieved at 26 Mg EUC-800 ha-1, but not at 52 Mg EUC-800 ha-1.

Conclusions

Increased doses of soil-applied herbicides cannot necessarily offset decreases in herbicide phytoavailability in biochar-amended soils, particularly if the biochar has a high SSA. Considering the long half-life of biochar in soil, pest control needs will be best served by low SSA biochars.

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Acknowledgments

Setaria viridis seeds were provided by Prof. Baruch Rubin, and sulfentrazone by Dr. Yael Mishael, both of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; their generosity is gratefully acknowledged. We greatly appreciate the careful and detailed reviews by the referees. This research was made possible by a grant from the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (project number 301-0693-10). This paper is contribution no. 604/11 of the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Israel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    E. R. Graber, L. Tsechansky & Z. Gerstl

  2. Institute of Agricultural Engineering, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    B. Lew

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  1. E. R. Graber
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  2. L. Tsechansky
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  3. Z. Gerstl
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  4. B. Lew
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Correspondence to E. R. Graber.

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Graber, E.R., Tsechansky, L., Gerstl, Z. et al. High surface area biochar negatively impacts herbicide efficacy. Plant Soil 353, 95–106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1012-7

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