Principal Investigator/Project Leader:
Emily
Cole
Kate
Gervais
Stephen
Herbert
Masoud
Hashemi
Sponsoring Unit(s):
Department of Project:
UMass Extension
Project Description:
Research Project Year: 2012
The goal of the proposed research work is to evaluate the addition of biochar as a soil amendment in a temperate agricultural field and in the greenhouse using live field soil.
Specific objectives of this study include:
- to study nutrient retention in soil amended by biochar; specifically to detect macro- and micro-nutrient status as a result of application of biochar to the soil
- to quantify and analyze the nitrogen uptake and yield of sweet corn in biochar amended field soils
- to characterize the effect of biochar on selected chemical and physical properties of the soil including pH, moisture retention and CEC (cation exchange capacity)
- to observe soil biotic (bacteria and nematodes) community shifts due to application of biochar at field scale
