Biochar addition to organo-mineral fertilisers delays nutrient leaching and enhances barley nutrient content

Biochar, a carbon-rich solid produced from biomass pyrolysis, has attracted growing interest as fertiliser ingredient due to its ability non-permanently retain nutrients. A greenhouse pot experiment was set up compare three commercial organo-mineral formulations (NPK, NP and K) with the corresponding containing slow-pyrolysis wood biochar (NPK+B, NP+B K+B) (6 replications each). Nutrient leaching well crop growth nutrient uptake monitored using barley model species. slowed down in NPK+B compared NPK fertiliser. The most responsive ions were nitrate potassium, whose during two first weeks reduced by 28% 22%, respectively, while this trend reversed third week on. One plausible explanation would be microbial immobilisation mediated concurrent habitat provision. significantly enhanced straw (23.43% increase respect NPK), whereas all biochar-based fertilisers showed increases content export (involving sulphur, calcium manganese), possibly indicating that acted source. These results provide some evidence of potential use studied meet availability plant demands.