Mycorrhizal Infection of Corn and Nutrient Availability in Soil Amended With Poultry Litter Biochar.

Biochar incorporation into soil often alters the abundance and activity of soil microorganisms, including mycorrhizal fungi. When mycorrhizal growth and plant infection are encouraged, increased plant nutrient availability and uptake can follow, which can lead to subsequent reductions in fertilizer requirements to support plant growth. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine if poultry litter biochar stimulates mycorrhizal infection and corn nutrient contents and growth in the presence of N-P-K fertilizer applied at recommended or reduced rates. Treatments (n=4) in a full factorial design including three rates of poultry litter biochar (0, 5,000, and 10,000 kg ha^-1) and three rates of fertilizer (0, half, and full recommended rates) were established in a randomized complete block in the greenhouse. Soils were sampled at initiation of the experiment and soil and plants were sampled when the corn plants reached tasseling stage. This study will shed light on the importance of changes in mycorrhizal infection as a mechanism explaining potential benefits of poultry liter biochar used as a soil amendment to improve agronomic performance of corn grown in midsouthern U.S. soils.