Chew, J. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Zhu, L. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Nielsen, S. - Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;
Mitchell, D.R.G. - Electron Microscopy Centre, University of Wollongong, AIIM Building, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2517, Australia;
Horvat, J. - ISEM and School of Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
Mohammed, M. - ISEM and School of Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
Liu, M. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
van Zwieten, L. - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia;
Donne, S. - Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia;
Munroe, P. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Taherymoosavi, S. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Pace, B. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Rawal, A. - NMR Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Hook, J. - NMR Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Marjo, C. - Solid State & Elemental Analysis Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Thomas, D.S. - Solid State & Elemental Analysis Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Pan, G. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Li, L. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Bian, R. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
McBeath, A. - College of Science, Technology and Engineering and Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, 4870, Australia;
Bird, M. - College of Science, Technology and Engineering and Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, 4870, Australia;
Thomas, T., Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;
Husson, O. - CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Montpellier, F-34398, France, AIDA, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France, Africa Rice Centre, 01 BP 2551, Bouaké, 01, Cote d'Ivoire;
Solaiman, Z. - UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, and The UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western AustraliaWA 6009, Australia;
Joseph, S. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China, Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; Fan, X. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Biochar-based compound fertilizers (BCF) and amendments have proven to enhance crop yields and modify soil properties (pH, nutrients, organic matter, structure etc.) and are now in commercial production in China. While there is a good understanding of the changes in soil properties following biochar addition, the interactions within the rhizosphere remain largely unstudied, with benefits to yield observed beyond the changes in soil properties alone. We investigated the rhizosphere interactions following the addition of an activated wheat straw BCF at an application rates of 0.25% (g·g− 1 soil), which could potentially explain the increase of plant biomass (by 67%), herbage N (by 40%) and P (by 46%) uptake in the rice plants grown in the BCF-treated soil, compared to the rice plants grown in the soil with conventional fertilizer alone. Examination of the roots revealed that micron and submicron-sized biochar were embedded in the plaque layer. BCF increased soil Eh by 85 mV and increased the potential difference between the rhizosphere soil and the root membrane by 65 mV. This increased potential difference lowered the free energy required for root nutrient accumulation, potentially explaining greater plant nutrient content and biomass. We also demonstrate an increased abundance of plant-growth promoting bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere. We suggest that the redox properties of the biochar cause major changes in electron status of rhizosphere soils that drive the observed agronomic benefits.
Chew, J. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Zhu, L. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Nielsen, S. - Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;
Mitchell, D.R.G. - Electron Microscopy Centre, University of Wollongong, AIIM Building, Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2517, Australia;
Horvat, J. - ISEM and School of Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
Mohammed, M. - ISEM and School of Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
Liu, M. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
van Zwieten, L. - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia;
Donne, S. - Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia;
Munroe, P. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Taherymoosavi, S. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Pace, B. - School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia;
Rawal, A. - NMR Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Hook, J. - NMR Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Marjo, C. - Solid State & Elemental Analysis Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Thomas, D.S. - Solid State & Elemental Analysis Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South WalesNSW 2052, Australia;
Pan, G. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Li, L. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Bian, R. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
McBeath, A. - College of Science, Technology and Engineering and Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, 4870, Australia;
Bird, M. - College of Science, Technology and Engineering and Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Cairns, 4870, Australia;
Thomas, T., Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;
Husson, O. - CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Montpellier, F-34398, France, AIDA, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France, Africa Rice Centre, 01 BP 2551, Bouaké, 01, Cote d'Ivoire;
Solaiman, Z. - UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, and The UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western AustraliaWA 6009, Australia;
Joseph, S. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China, Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; Fan, X. - College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China;
Biochar-based compound fertilizers (BCF) and amendments have proven to enhance crop yields and modify soil properties (pH, nutrients, organic matter, structure etc.) and are now in commercial production in China. While there is a good understanding of the changes in soil properties following biochar addition, the interactions within the rhizosphere remain largely unstudied, with benefits to yield observed beyond the changes in soil properties alone. We investigated the rhizosphere interactions following the addition of an activated wheat straw BCF at an application rates of 0.25% (g·g− 1 soil), which could potentially explain the increase of plant biomass (by 67%), herbage N (by 40%) and P (by 46%) uptake in the rice plants grown in the BCF-treated soil, compared to the rice plants grown in the soil with conventional fertilizer alone. Examination of the roots revealed that micron and submicron-sized biochar were embedded in the plaque layer. BCF increased soil Eh by 85 mV and increased the potential difference between the rhizosphere soil and the root membrane by 65 mV. This increased potential difference lowered the free energy required for root nutrient accumulation, potentially explaining greater plant nutrient content and biomass. We also demonstrate an increased abundance of plant-growth promoting bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere. We suggest that the redox properties of the biochar cause major changes in electron status of rhizosphere soils that drive the observed agronomic benefits.