ArticlePloS one2018
Getting to the root of the matter: Water-soluble and volatile components in thermally-treated biosolids and biochar differentially regulate maize (Zea mays) seedling growth.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Alliances and competitions between nematodes and other micro-organisms occurring in the soil biosphere: a review.Frontiers in plant science · 2026Review
- Plant-Derived Waste as a Component of Growing Media: Manifestations, Assessments, and Sources of Their Phytotoxicity.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Microbial-assisted phytodegradation for the amelioration of pyrene-contaminated soil using3 Biotech · 2023Article
- Post-processing of biochars to enhance plant growth responses: a review and meta-analysis.Biochar · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The use of thermally treated biomass, including biochar, as soil amendments can improve soil fertility by providing nutrients, stable C and improving soil water-holding capacity. However, if the degree of carbonization is low, these soil amendments can lower crop productivity as a result of high salinity or organic compounds. The overall effect of these soil amendments is mediated by complex relationships between production conditions, soil properties and environmental conditions. This study aimed to 1) characterize the physiochemical properties and organic compounds released by three soil amendments (softwood biochar or pyrogenic carbonaceous biosolids), 2) determine the effects of these amendments on maize (Zea mays) seedling productivity, and 3) relate properties of these amendments to effects on maize seedling productivity under controlled environment conditions. Physicochemical properties and mobile organic compounds (water-soluble and volatile organic compounds were determined. The amendments were tested in maize germination and greenhouse experiments. Chemical fingerprinting of volatile and water-soluble compounds revealed over 100 mobile organic species. Increasing treatment temperature from 270 to 320°C reduces phytotoxicity of pyrogenic carbonaceous biosolids soil amendments. Water-soluble components of pyrogenic carbonaceous biosolids produced at 270°C (inorganic N, Na and/or organic compounds) were associated with reduced maize seedling productivity. Volatile components of pyrogenic carbonaceous biosolids produced at 320°C were associated with improved maize seedling productivity; nitrogen uptake was increased in spite of smaller root systems as a result of increased mineralization of soil or amendment N and/or uptake of organic N compounds. These results suggest that pyrogenic carbonaceous biosolids have potential benefits to provide plant nutrients when the amount of organic and inorganic species are limited during early growth stages, under greenhouse conditions. Future studies should examine these effects under field conditions to confirm whether controlled environment results translate into effects on yield.
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Registered trials
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