Changes in Soil Chemistry following Wood and Grass Biochar Amendments to an Acidic Agricultural Production Soil

The ability of biochars that are produced by biomass gasification to remediate acidic production soils is generally not as well known in comparison to biochars resulting from pyrolysis. A recent characterization of biochar produced from gasification of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) seed screenings (KB) suggested that KB biochar might have utility in remediation of acidic agricultural production soils where aluminum uptake limits wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth. A replicated greenhouse pot study was conducted in which single plants of wheat were grown for 74 d in a Freeman (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquandic Palexeralf) or Bernhill (fine-loamy, isotic, mesic Vitrandic Haploxeralf) soil amended with biochars produced by gasification of either KB seed screenings or chipped conifer tree tops. Addition of either biochar to the soils immobilized soil-Al. Selective binding characteristics of the biochars for some ions, heavy metals, organics, and the capacity to alter acid soil pH suggest a potential utility in acid soil remediation.