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Enhancing Soil Health with Hardwood Biochar

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:

  1. 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
  2. to quantify and analyze the nitrogen uptake and yield of sweet corn in biochar amended field soils
  3. to characterize the effect of biochar on selected chemical and physical properties of the soil including pH, moisture retention and CEC (cation exchange capacity)
  4. to observe soil biotic (bacteria and nematodes) community shifts due to application of biochar at field scale