Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Biochar increases arbuscular mycorrhizal plant growth enhancement and ameliorates salinity stress

Hammer, Edith LU ; Forstreuter, Manfred ; Rillig, Matthias C. and Kohler, Josef (2015) In Applied Soil Ecology 96. p.114-121
Abstract
We examined combined effects of biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and salinity on plant growth and physiology to test whether and how biochar influences AM fungi mediated growth and nutrition enhancements, and whether and how biochar provides amelioration in salt stressed soils. We carried out a full three-factorial greenhouse experiment with Lactuca sativa; and a second study with a wider range of biochar and salt additions to examine physicochemical effects on soil parameters. Biochar together with AM fungal inoculation resulted in an additional plant yield increase compared to each alone under non-saline conditions. In parallel with increased plant growth, we found increased uptake of P and Mn with AM fungi and biochar... (More)
We examined combined effects of biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and salinity on plant growth and physiology to test whether and how biochar influences AM fungi mediated growth and nutrition enhancements, and whether and how biochar provides amelioration in salt stressed soils. We carried out a full three-factorial greenhouse experiment with Lactuca sativa; and a second study with a wider range of biochar and salt additions to examine physicochemical effects on soil parameters. Biochar together with AM fungal inoculation resulted in an additional plant yield increase compared to each alone under non-saline conditions. In parallel with increased plant growth, we found increased uptake of P and Mn with AM fungi and biochar addition, but to a lesser extent than biochar-induced growth promotion. Both factors, but especially biochar alleviated salinity-caused growth depressions, and improved Na/K ratio in salinity stressed plants. Reduced Na uptake of plants and reduced conductivity in biochar-ameliorated soils suggest that a likely mechanism involves ion adsorption to biochar surfaces. Our results suggest that plants depend on symbiotic microorganisms to fully exploit biochar benefits in soils, suggesting avenues for joint management in agriculture. Biochar may be advantageous in saline soils, but long-term studies are required before recommendations should be given. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biochar, Black carbon, Salt stress, Mycorrhiza, Soil improvement, Salt, sorption
in
Applied Soil Ecology
volume
96
pages
114 - 121
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000361880400014
  • scopus:84951984481
ISSN
0929-1393
DOI
10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b623eee-3559-4820-b550-757d530939c2 (old id 8220836)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:00:18
date last changed
2022-04-19 21:26:31
@article{0b623eee-3559-4820-b550-757d530939c2,
  abstract     = {{We examined combined effects of biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and salinity on plant growth and physiology to test whether and how biochar influences AM fungi mediated growth and nutrition enhancements, and whether and how biochar provides amelioration in salt stressed soils. We carried out a full three-factorial greenhouse experiment with Lactuca sativa; and a second study with a wider range of biochar and salt additions to examine physicochemical effects on soil parameters. Biochar together with AM fungal inoculation resulted in an additional plant yield increase compared to each alone under non-saline conditions. In parallel with increased plant growth, we found increased uptake of P and Mn with AM fungi and biochar addition, but to a lesser extent than biochar-induced growth promotion. Both factors, but especially biochar alleviated salinity-caused growth depressions, and improved Na/K ratio in salinity stressed plants. Reduced Na uptake of plants and reduced conductivity in biochar-ameliorated soils suggest that a likely mechanism involves ion adsorption to biochar surfaces. Our results suggest that plants depend on symbiotic microorganisms to fully exploit biochar benefits in soils, suggesting avenues for joint management in agriculture. Biochar may be advantageous in saline soils, but long-term studies are required before recommendations should be given. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Hammer, Edith and Forstreuter, Manfred and Rillig, Matthias C. and Kohler, Josef}},
  issn         = {{0929-1393}},
  keywords     = {{Biochar; Black carbon; Salt stress; Mycorrhiza; Soil improvement; Salt; sorption}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{114--121}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Applied Soil Ecology}},
  title        = {{Biochar increases arbuscular mycorrhizal plant growth enhancement and ameliorates salinity stress}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.014}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.07.014}},
  volume       = {{96}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}