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Results of a recent multiyear experiment conducted on an agricultural plot that was recently converted from boreal forest (Labrador, Canada) suggested that NPK fertilizers contributed to better crop establishment and higher yield but only when it was applied along with biochar. The failure of fertilizer only treatments to allow crop establishment and desirable growth and yield could be related to the deficiency of one or more micronutrients. Consequently, a missing element trial with a number of micronutrients (Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo) was initiated on the same soil to investigate whether biochar can facilitate the availability of one or more of these micronutrients, contributing to crop growth and yields. Results show that the incorporation of chemical fertilizers with biochar produced significantly higher yields than in the absence of biochar. Furthermore, in the absence of biochar, the addition of micronutrients (i.e., Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo) did not significantly increase yield. On the other hand, among the treatments that included biochar, the absence of a micronutrient (i.e., only three of the four micronutrients included) had either no effect (e.g., absence of Mn or Zn) or was associated with the increased yields (i.e., absence of Cu or Mo). Thus, it is proposed that while all tested micronutrients were present in the podzolic soil, with Cu and Mo possibly oversupplied, co-application with biochar enhanced both macronutrient and micronutrient utilization by plants. The data on the availability of micronutrients in the soil, their concentration in plants, and total uptake also support this conclusion. Thus, biochar facilitates the plant uptake of both naturally occurring and added micronutrients, and associated crop productivity, in a podzolic soil typical for lands converted from forest to agricultural use in the boreal ecoregion of Labrador. These results also challenge the view that micronutrients must always be added to Podzols to achieve maximum productivity; biochar-mediated micronutrient plant uptake deserves consideration when managing Podzols.

This study calculates the economic feasibility of converting biomass from black spruce forests into biochar and using it as soil amendment to grow potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) to improve food availability in one of Canada's most consistently food insecure provinces. The trees were clear cut for the construction of the controversial Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam and have been left to decay due to a lack of economically feasible processing options. A stochastic analysis conducted on a biochar production budget of a slow pyrolysis mobile biochar unit reveals fixed and variable cost estimates of $505.14 Mg−1 and $499.13 Mg−1, respectively. Applying the biochar as a soil amendment for local beet or potato production makes the biochar venture profitable. Beet field trial data from the study region using 10 t C biochar application rates increases beet yield from 2.9 Mg/ha to 11.4 Mg/ha with a midline increase of 5.59 Mg/ha. A stochastic analysis with variable prices and yields shows a 0.99 probability of biochar production being profitable when applied to beets at the midline production rate, with an average annualized net return over variable costs of $4,953 ha−1, and maximum annualized net return of $11,288 ha−1, over variable costs. Potato production yields average annualized net returns of $965.48 ha−1 over variable costs, but with much more downside risk, considering the minimum annualized net return of −$318.82 ha−1 over variable costs. Biochar application covers average total costs for beets but not potatoes. Using biochar from forest biomass as a soil amendment presents an opportunity to create a local market for biochar in a remote area of Canada, where biochar may be used as an experimental soil amendment to improve food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-year experiment was conducted in the sandy, acidic soils of Happy Valley--Goose Bay (HV-GB), Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to evaluate the effects of hardwood biochar on soil fertility, and to ascertain its nutrient supplying capability when applied singly or in combination with fishmeal and chemical fertilizers. The experiment was set up on a permanent layout and in a randomized block design with 10 treatments resulting from combinations of biochar (20 Mg C ha-1) with half and full recommended doses of fertilizers and fishmeal. In the control and biochar only treatments the beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedlings did not grow at all, and in the fertilizer or fishmeal alone treatments the survival, growth, and biomass yields were severely affected. However, biochar application along with fertilizer or fishmeal enhanced crop establishment, growth, and yields. Biochar application increased topsoil pH by 0.5 unit and availability of Ca, K, and Mn by 186, 19, and 2.6 mg L-1, respectively. Plant tissue contents of N, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn were greater in nonbiochar treatments (NBT) than in biochar treatments (BT), but the opposite was found for K. Despite greater nutrient contents in NBT for some elements, plant uptake (kg ha-1) of nutrients in BT were always much greater than NBT due to higher biomass yield in BT. The positive effects of biochar observed in this study demonstrate that biochar has the potential to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity of sandy, acidic soils that are similar to the regional soils of Labrador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the impact of aresenic-contaminated irrigation water on the growth and uptake of arsenic into rice grain, husk, straw and root.

Examines the effects of using arsenic contaminated irrigation water on the growth of rice in Bangladesh. Increase of concentration of arsenate; Speciation of arsenic in tissues; Application of nitrogen and potassium.

The article reports that Editor of "Agronomy Journal" has expressed gratitude towards reviewers including Alison, Wink, Louisiana State Univ. Agric. Center, Winnsboro and Alvarez, Roberto, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Below, Frederick, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana and Bell, Jordan, Texas A&M AgriLife, Amarillo, Texas.