Impacts of biochar amended soils on ryegrass (Lolium perenne) growth under different water stress conditions

Abstract

Improvement of soil water capacity is a critical technology to decrease the plant growth restriction by water stress in the arid and semi-arid region. The influences of biochar amended soils (which were incubated for 11 months) on the ryegrass growth at different clipping stages and water stress conditions were determined. Biochar amendment did not influence the plant germination. Better improvement effects on plant height and biomass were found in the Shahuang soil (M soil) with lower fertility than that in the Dark Loessial soil (B soil) at the first clipping stage and under different water stress condition at the second clipping stage. The biochar application rate of 8 g kg-1 appeared to get better improvement effects than the control and 16 g kg-1. This study showed that biochar application could be used as the soil amendment in the Loess Plateau to weaken the restriction of water shortage and promote plant growth.