Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change

• DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12191
• Publication Date: 2014-03-29T03:56:50Z
• Authors: Roger T. Koide; Binh T. Nguyen; R. Howard Skinner; Curtis J. Dell; Matthew S. Peoples; Paul R. Adler; Patrick J. Drohan
• Keywords: Permanent wilting point; Slash-and-char; Amendment; Soil texture

Abstract Because of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions the world. This be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many which will likely grown drought‐prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is byproduct a production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar become widely available. We asked, therefore, whether addition could significantly increase availability water crop. made from switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at rate 1% dry weight four varying texture, and available contents were calculated difference between field capacity permanent wilting point contents. increased by both increasing amount held allowing plants draw lower content before wilting. Among tested, amendment resulted an additional 0.8–2.7 d transpiration, or reduce frequency irrigation. thus viable means mitigating predicted decrease accompanying change that future