Biochar improves fertility in waste derived manufactured soils, but not resilience to climate change

ORCID

Abstract

We present a soil manufactured from waste materials, which could replace the use of peat and topsoil in plant production and reduce the pressure on natural soil resources. We tested the effect of the manufactured soil on ecosystem functions and microbial communities with and without plants present, and with and without biochar addition (Experiment 1). The resilience of the soil in response to drought and flooding, and also the effect of biochar was also tested (Experiment 2). Biochar increased soil C and N regardless of plant presence and negated the effect of the plant on soil peroxidase enzyme activity. The manufactured soil was largely resilient to drought, but not flooding, with negative impacts on microbial communities. Results indicate that biochar could improve soil properties, but not resilience to climatic perturbations. Results suggest that manufactured soils amended with biochar could offer a useful alternative to natural soil in many contexts.

DOI

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171387

Publication Date

2024-05-01

Publication Title

Science of the Total Environment

Volume

923

ISSN

0048-9697

Embargo Period

2026-03-11

Keywords

Biochar, Biogeochemistry, Climate-change, Drought, Flooding, Resilience, Waste derived manufactured soil

First Page

171387

Last Page

171387

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