ARS | Publication request: Water holding of biochar amended SE Coastal Plain soils

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 15, 2011
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Because southeastern Coastal Plain soils are sandy, poorly aggregated, and low in organic matter, they have low water holding capacities. Water holding can be improved with biochar amendments that have the potential to increase aggregation and provide a medium of water storage in the char. Changes in water holding have been analyzed for several bench-top experiments using a number of biochars produced at either high (>500ºC) or low (>400ºC). Also included was a study with hardwood biochar mixed into soil at 0, 33, 67, and 100% rates to assess its ability to hold water with and without soil. Biochars have the ability to amend sandy coastal soils and improve their soil water holding capacities.