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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Nutrition
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1475939
This article is part of the Research Topic Application and Mechanism of Plant Biostimulants, Biochar, Fertilizer Products, and Other Nutrition-related Agrochemicals View all 28 articles

Fertilizer Potential of Biochar and Ryegrass Productivity in Metal-Contaminated Soil

Provisionally accepted
Joao Antonangelo Joao Antonangelo 1*Joao Luis Bigatao Souza Joao Luis Bigatao Souza 2Hailin Zhang Hailin Zhang 3
  • 1 Washington State University, Pullman, United States
  • 2 Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States
  • 3 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Response to fertilization with biochar in contaminated soils for forage crops lacks comprehensive understanding. This study delves into the role of biochar in enhancing soil pH and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) availability for ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in clay and silt loam metalcontaminated soils. Employing switchgrass-derived biochar (SGB) and poultry litter-derived biochar (PLB), two pot experiments were conducted with varying biochar application rates: one without plants and the other with ryegrass. Results demonstrated a significant rise in soil pH with increasing biochar rates, particularly notable for PLB experiment with plants, attributed to PLB's superior buffer capacity. PLB significantly improved ryegrass productivity, evident in germination percentage, plant population, and biomass, especially at a 0.5-1% biochar application rate. However, excessive biochar application (2-4%) hindered plant growth, underscoring the need for rational dosage. PLB at 1% application sufficed to barely surpass critical P and K thresholds for optimal ryegrass production, whereas SGB fell short of meeting these thresholds, highlighting the importance of biochar feedstock selection. While biochar shows promise for metal remediation and nutrient enhancement, caution is advised against excessive application, considering potential nutrient contamination risks based on feedstock variations.

    Keywords: Lime effect, Biochar application, Fertilizer amendment, Phosphorus and potassium, Ryegrass production

    Received: 04 Aug 2024; Accepted: 20 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Antonangelo, Bigatao Souza and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Joao Antonangelo, Washington State University, Pullman, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.