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Partitioning the contributions of biochar properties to enhanced biological nitrogen fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

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Abstract

Studies document increases in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) following applications of biochar. However, the underlying mechanisms for this response remain elusive. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to test the effects of biochar mineral nutrients, pH, and volatile matter (VM) on BNF in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Biochars were produced from seven feedstocks pyrolyzed at either 350 or 550 °C. Biochars were treated with acid to reduce mineral nutrient contents, with acetone to remove acetone-soluble VM, with steam to reduce both the mineral and VM contents, or left untreated. The biochar additions at a rate of 15 t ha−1 resulted in an average 262 % increase in shoot biomass, 164 % increase in root biomass, 3575 % increase in nodule biomass, and a 2126 % increase in N derived from atmosphere (Ndfa) over the control. Simple mineral nutrients and soil acidity amelioration from the biochar were only to a minimal extent responsible for these increases (r 2 = 0.03; P = 0.0298, n = 201). Plant growth and Ndfa were significantly correlated with plant P uptake (r 2 = 0.22; P < 0.0001, n = 201). However, plant P uptake was not correlated with biochar P additions (P > 0.05). Improved P nutrition resulted from 360 % greater mycorrhizal colonization with biochar additions. Removal of acetone-soluble VM increased plant growth and Ndfa, and VM extracted from the biochar produced at 350 °C reduced the growth of rhizobia in yeast extract mannitol agar (YMA) medium. In contrast, acetone-soluble VM extracted from seven biochars produced at 550 °C increased the growth of rhizobium in the YMA compared to an acetone-residue control, suggesting differential effects of VM forms on rhizobia.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this work was given by the NSF-Basic Research for Enabling Agricultural Development program (BREAD grant number IOS-0965336), the Fondation des Fondateurs, Towards Sustainability Foundation, Richard Bradfield Research Award, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, the Cornell Graduate School, NSEP Boren Fellowship, and the U.S. Borlaug Fellowship in Global Food Security. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors. The authors would like to thank Dr. Steve Beebe of CIAT for providing the bean seeds, Dr. Steven Vanek for his invaluable discussions, Mr. Justo Otieno Owuor for assistance with the greenhouse management, and several anonymous referees for their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    David T. Güereña, Johannes Lehmann, Janice E. Thies & Akio Enders

  2. Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Nancy Karanja

  3. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya

    Henry Neufeldt

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  1. David T. Güereña
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Correspondence to Johannes Lehmann.

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Güereña, D.T., Lehmann, J., Thies, J.E. et al. Partitioning the contributions of biochar properties to enhanced biological nitrogen fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Biol Fertil Soils 51, 479–491 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-014-0990-z

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