Nutrient changes in potting mix and Eucalyptus nitens leaf tissue under macadamia biochar amendments

Wrobel-Tobiszewska, A., Boersma, M., Sargison, J., Adams, P., Singh, B., Franks, Stewart, Birch, C. J. and Close, D. C. (2018) Nutrient changes in potting mix and Eucalyptus nitens leaf tissue under macadamia biochar amendments. Journal of Forestry Research, 29 (2). pp. 383-393. ISSN 1007-662X

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Abstract

The effect of macadamia nut shell biochar on nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and sodium concentrations in potting mix used to grow Eucalyptus nitens seedlings was investigated in a glasshouse experiment. The treatments combined two fertiliser rates (50 and 100% rate of the commercial mix commonly used in forestry nurseries) with eight biochar rates (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100 t ha−1) arranged in a randomised complete block with three replicates of four sample plants. Nutrients were quantified in the potting mix and seedling leaves at four destructive harvests 135, 177, 219 and 269 days after planting. Biochar significantly increased nitrate-N, Colwell P, Colwell K and exchangeable Na and reduced ammonium-N, Mg and Ca concentrations in the potting mix. Seedling leaf concentrations of P, K and Na were increased by biochar application, while N remained dependent on fertiliser rate only. Mg and Ca leaf concentrations decreased in response to increasing biochar rates. Elevated nitrate-N and decreased ammonium-N concentrations suggest that biochar might have increased nitrification in the potting mix. We presumed that biochar mediated processes that reduced uptake of P and K when high doses of biochar were combined with full fertilisation. Changes in potting mix K, Na, Mg and Ca were consistent with selective adsorption of ions to biochar surfaces.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Charcoal, Forest plantation, Plant nutrition, Seedlings, Soil chemistry
Subjects:	D500 Forestry D900 Others in Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects
Department:	Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Mechanical and Construction Engineering
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2019 10:16
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2019 20:46
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/38712

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