Field Crops Research

Analysis of data from the National Soil Inventory of England and Wales obtained between 1978 and 2003 shows widespread increases in soil pH - i.e., soils became less acid - across both countries during the survey period. In general, soil pH increased under all land uses. At least part of the increase and its regional variation could be explained by decreased sulphur deposition from the atmosphere. Changes in liming practices on arable land probably also contributed. The effect of decreased sulphur deposition was moderated by land use, soil properties - particularly soil pH and organic carbon content - and the level of past sulphur deposition.

Changes in soil pH across England and Wales in response to decreased acid deposition

Influence of biochar and biochar-based fertilizer on yield, quality of tea and microbial community in an acid tea orchard soil

Organic fertilizer reduced carbon and nitrogen in runoff and buffered soil acidification in tea plantations: Evidence in nutrient contents and isotope fractionations.

Arsenic acquisition, toxicity and tolerance in plants - From physiology to remediation: A review.

Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations.

Melatonin-mediated regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis and antioxidant defense confer tolerance to arsenic stress in Camellia sinensis L

Exogenous melatonin improves tea quality under moderate high temperatures by increasing epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theanine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis L

Biochar stimulates tea growth by improving nutrients in acidic soil

Biochar is widely used in agriculture to improve soil fertility and plant growth. However, a comprehensive assessment of how biochar amendment affects plant root growth is lacking. This study investigated the change in plant root biomass in response to biochar application, including impact factors such as the biochar feedstock and application rate, plant type, and soil pH. The Science Direct, Web Of Science, and Scopus databases were employed to search for literature published before 2021. The published papers with at least three replicates of biochar-amended treatments and a control at the same site were selected for meta-analysis. Our results showed that 165 (81.3%) of 203 datasets from 47 published studies indicated positive effects of biochar amendment on root growth with a mean relative increase of 32%. The feedstocks of biochar and its rate of application were the main factors that determined its effects on plant root growth. The increment of root biomass following biochar amendment was the greatest for trees (+101.6%), followed by grasses (+66.0%), vegetables (+26.9%), and cereals (+12.7%). The positive effects mainly depended on feedstock sources, with the highest positive effect (+46.2%) for gramineous, followed by woody plants (+25.8%) and green wastes (+21.1%). Linear regression analysis and SEM (Structural equation modeling) analysis showed that total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AK) are one of the most important factors affecting the increase of root biomass. These results suggest that biochar can be considered an effective amendment to improve root growth and soil fertility. Biochar feedstock sources, application rates, and plant types should be considered to assess the potential benefits of biochar for root growth and soil quality.

Response of Plant Root Growth to Biochar Amendment: A Meta-Analysis

Jianyu Fu

Papers

Soil acidification in Chinese tea plantations.

Melatonin-mediated regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis and antioxidant defense confer tolerance to arsenic stress in Camellia sinensis L

Exogenous melatonin improves tea quality under moderate high temperatures by increasing epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theanine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis L

Biochar stimulates tea growth by improving nutrients in acidic soil

Response of Plant Root Growth to Biochar Amendment: A Meta-Analysis