Biochar built soil carbon over a decade by stabilizing rhizodeposits

Abstract

Biochar can increase the stable C content of soil. However, studies on the longer-term role of plant-soil-biochar interactions and the consequent changes to native soil organic carbon (SOC) are lacking. Periodic 13 CO 2 pulse labelling of ryegrass was used to monitor belowground C allocation, SOC priming, and stabilization of root-derived C for a 15-month period - commencing 8.2 years after biochar (Eucalyptus saligna, 550 °C) was amended into a subtropical ferralsol. We found that field-aged biochar enhanced the belowground recovery of new root-derived C (13 C) by 20%, and facilitated negative rhizosphere priming (it slowed SOC mineralization by 5.5%, that is, 46 g CO 2 -C m â '2 yr â '1). Retention of root-derived 13 C in the stable organo-mineral fraction (<53 μm) was also increased (6%, P < 0.05). Through synchrotron-based spectroscopic analysis of bulk soil, field-aged biochar and microaggregates (<250 μm), we demonstrate that biochar accelerates the formation of microaggregates via organo-mineral interactions, resulting in the stabilization and accumulation of SOC in a rhodic ferralsol.