Testing the potential of biochar to improve bareroot nursery efficiencies

Abstract

One way to increase conversion of woody residues often burned in slash piles into a value-added product is to expand markets for biochar. Biochar has been used to increase the growth of agricultural crops, grass, and urban trees and it has also been used as replacement for Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, or vermiculite in growing substrates for container seedlings (Dumroese et al. 2020). Using biochar in bareroot nursery beds is an opportunity for improving soil properties while also reducing nutrient and irrigation inputs. After 1 year, biochar reduced the amounts of NO3 -- N (fig. 1) leaching downward through the soil profile and increased the amount of soil solution NH4 +-N (fig. 2) at the 10 cm depth. This nitrogen data highlights the importance of adding a high-carbon substrate (biochar) to limit fertilizer losses. One benefit often described about biochar additions to soil, particularly coarse-textured soil, is the ability to increase plant available water (Page-Dumroese et al. 2017).

Parent Publication

• Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop

Citation

Page-Dumroese, D.; Dumroese, R. K.; Tirocke, J.; Gilbert, R.; Wilson, S. 2022. Testing the potential of biochar to improve bareroot nursery efficiencies. In: Jain, Theresa B.; Schuler, Thomas M. [comp.]. Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop. Proc. RMRS-P-80. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 3 p.