Nutrient transformations are influenced by a
myriad of biotic and abiotic factors.
However, to date, there have been no
attempts to synthesize the literature regarding
the influence of biochar on soil nutrient
transformations.
Although the major focus of...
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Nutrient transformations are influenced by a
myriad of biotic and abiotic factors.
However, to date, there have been no
attempts to synthesize the literature regarding
the influence of biochar on soil nutrient
transformations.
Although the major focus of
this book is to review biochar as a soil amendment in agro-ecosystems, the majority of the
literature that addresses the effects of biochar
on nutrient transformations has originated
from studies in natural forest ecosystems.
The addition of biochar to forest soils has
been found to directly influence nitrogen (N)
transformations in phenol-rich acidic forest
soils of both temperate (DeLuca et al, 2006;
Gundale and DeLuca, 2006; MacKenzie and
DeLuca, 2006) and boreal (DeLuca et al,
2002; Berglund et al, 2004) forest ecosystems.
Applying biochar to forest soils along
with natural or synthetic fertilizers has been
found to increase the bioavailability and plant
uptake of phosphorus (P), alkaline metals
and some trace metals (Glaser et
Less