RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Biochar effects on the nursery propagation of 4 northern Rocky Mountain native plant species
JF Native Plants Journal
JO NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 14
OP 26
DO 10.3368/npj.19.1.14
VO 19
IS 1
A1 Clarice P Matt
A1 Christopher R Keyes
A1 R Kasten Dumroese
YR 2018
UL http://npj.uwpress.org/content/19/1/14.abstract
AB Biochar has emerged as a promising potential amendment of soilless nursery media for plant propagation. With this greenhouse study we used biochar to displace standard soilless nursery media at 4 rates (0, 15, 30, and 45% [v:v]) and then examined media chemistry, irrigation frequency, and the growth of 4 northern Rocky Mountain native plant species: Clarkia pulchella Pursh (Onagraceae), Festuca idahoensis Elmer (Poaceae), Gaillardia aristata Pursh (Asteraceae), and Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson (Pinaceae). For all 4 species, media electrical conductivity (EC) showed little variation and was unaffected by biochar treatment. Pinus and Gaillardia media pH was lowered by all biochar levels, but the magnitude of difference was minimal. For Pinus, Gaillardia, and Clarkia, final seedling shoot, root, and total biomass production for all biochar treatments were similar. Only Festuca experienced a negative biochar effect regardless of biochar rate; root biomass was reduced, which was also reflected in lower total biomass and lower root-to-shoot ratios. Notably, adding biochar reduced watering frequency for all 4 species, with the magnitude of reduction directly proportional to biochar content. In the most extreme case (Festuca), controls required 55% more frequent irrigation than the 45% biochar treatment. This research shows that for 3 of the 4 species studied, soilless nursery media can be amended by up to 45% biochar content with minimal costs to plant growth and a reduction in watering frequency.