Abstract
Definition, analysis, and certification of biochar quality are crucial to the agronomic acceptance of biochar. While most biochars have a positive impact on plant growth, some may have adverse effects due to the presence of phytotoxic compounds. Conversely, some biochars may have the ability to adsorb and neutralize natural phytotoxic compounds found in soil. We evaluated the effects of biochars on seedling growth and absorption of allelochemicals present in corn ( L.) residues. Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars produced from varied feedstocks, thermochemical processes, and temperatures. Percent germination and shoot and radicle lengths were evaluated at the end of the germination period. Extracts from the six biochars had no effect on percent germination; however, extracts from three biochars produced at high conversion temperatures significantly inhibited shoot growth by an average of 16% relative to deionized (DI) water. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in the aqueous extracts are believed to be at least partly responsible for the reduction in seedling growth. Repeated leaching of biochars before extract preparation eliminated the negative effects on seedling growth. Biochars differ significantly in their capacity to adsorb allelochemicals present in corn residues. Germination of corn seeds in extracts of corn residue showed 94% suppression of radicle growth compared to those exposed to DI water; however, incubation of corn residue extracts with leached biochar for 24 h before initiating the germination test increased radicle length 6 to 12 times compared to the corn residue extract treatments. Germination tests appear to be a reliable procedure to differentiate between effects of different types of biochar on corn seedling growth.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Six biochar extracts did not change corn seed germination percentage.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayse1 - Treatment
- Extracts from the six biocharse0
- Outcome
- percent germinatione0
- Direction
- no effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Extracts from the six biochars had no effect on percent germination”
e1“Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
Extracts from three high-temperature biochars inhibited corn shoot growth by an average 16% relative to deionized water.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Organ / stage
- shoote0
- Treatment
- extracts from three biochars produced at high conversion temperaturese0
- Outcome
- shoot growthe0
- Direction
- inhibitede0
- Value
- 16%e0
- Comparator
- deionized (DI) watere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“extracts from three biochars produced at high conversion temperatures significantly inhibited shoot growth by an average of 16% relative to deionized (DI) water”
e1“Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may partly explain reduced corn seedling growth.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Compound
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonse0
- Outcome
- reduction in seedling growthe0
- Qualifier
- at least partlye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected in the aqueous extracts are believed to be at least partly responsible for the reduction in seedling growth”
e1“Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
Repeated leaching of biochar eliminated adverse effects on corn seedling growth.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- Repeated leaching of biochars before extract preparatione0
- Outcome
- seedling growthe0
- Direction
- eliminatede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Repeated leaching of biochars before extract preparation eliminated the negative effects on seedling growth”
e1“Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochars differed significantly in capacity to adsorb allelochemicals from corn residues.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse0
- Outcome
- capacity to adsorb allelochemicalse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biochars differ significantly in their capacity to adsorb allelochemicals present in corn residues”
Claim · model-written summary
Corn residue extract suppressed corn radicle growth by 94% compared with deionized water.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse0
- Organ / stage
- radiclee0
- Treatment
- extracts of corn residuee0
- Outcome
- radicle growthe0
- Direction
- suppressione0
- Value
- 94%e0
- Comparator
- DI watere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Germination of corn seeds in extracts of corn residue showed 94% suppression of radicle growth compared to those exposed to DI water”
Claim · model-written summary
Incubating corn residue extract with leached biochar increased corn radicle length 6 to 12 times compared with residue extract alone.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse1
- Treatment
- incubation of corn residue extracts with leached biochar for 24 he0
- Outcome
- radicle lengthe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 6 to 12 timese0
- Comparator
- corn residue extract treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“incubation of corn residue extracts with leached biochar for 24 h before initiating the germination test increased radicle length 6 to 12 times compared to the corn residue extract treatments”
e1“Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six biochars”
Claim · model-written summary
Germination tests differentiated biochar effects on corn seedling growth.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse0
- Outcome
- differentiate between effects of different types of biochar on corn seedling growthe0
- Comparator
- different types of biochare0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Germination tests appear to be a reliable procedure to differentiate between effects of different types of biochar on corn seedling growth”
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