Crop, Soil, and Greenhouse Gas Emission Response to Biochar As a Soil Amendment for Corn (Zea mays L.) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Biochar has been reported to improve crop yield, increase availability of plant nutrients, increase soil moisture retention, reduce greenhouse gas emission, and sequester carbon.  A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Minnesota, Southwest Research and Outreach Center near Lamberton to evaluate soil and crop responses to biochar amendments. The objectives of this experiment were to: 1) measure chemical and biological activities in soil amended with pyrolysis, gasification and combustion biochar/ash products (Turkey Manure Combustion Ash, Corn Cob/Wood Gasification Biochar, and Switchgrass Pyrolysis Biochar); and 2) measure plant growth response to those same amendments. Treatments were applied at three rates (11.2, 22.4 and 44.8 Mg ha^-1) in addition to a control (0 Mg Biochar ha^-1). Crops tested were corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and fallow treatment, and were kept in 2.1 L pots for 55 days. The study was set up in a completely randomized block design replicated four times. The soil series used were Hubbard loamy sand, Canisteo clay loam, and Barnes loam. Plant growth was assessed on a weekly basis, starting 14 days after planting. Soil samples were collected from all pots at the beginning and end of the study; additional sub-samples were collected at planned intervals from the corn and fallow treatments. Samples are being analyzed for total C, total N, total S, ammonium, nitrate, pH, moisture retention at wilting point, and selected enzyme activities. Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and ammonia) were measured from two reps of selected corn and fallow treatments at specific intervals throughout the experiment. Above ground plant material was collected and are being analyzed for biomass yield and nutrient uptake. Results will aid in determining how these products affect several soil physic-chemical and biological properties and as a result crop growth.