Biochar amendment did not influence the growth of two tree plantations on nutrient‐depleted Ultisols in the south Ecuadorian Amazon region

Abstract:

The literature suggests that biochar increases the fertility of degraded, nutrient‐poor tropical soils. We hypothesized that the addition of biochar (a) increases tree growth in two plantations on Ultisols in the south Ecuadorian Amazon region, (b) reduces litterfall during the dry season because the soil remains moister, and (c) improves the benefit–cost ratio of the plantation. We grew two tree species—the native leguminous Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Ducke) Barneby and the exotic Gmelina arborea Roxb—and used a full factorial split‐split‐plot design of all treatments for both tree species at each of two sites. The treatments included the amendment of mineral fertilizer plus lime, 3 and 6 t ha–1 biochar, and a control. The plots were replicated three or four times. Tree height (TH), basal diameter (BD), and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured several times during 51 mo after planting in …

Año de publicación:

2021

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Fuente:

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