LE3 .A278 2016

2016

Walker, Allison

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Biochar is gaining attention worldwide for its potential use as an organic soil amendment that could increase agricultural yields, improve soil fertility, and reduce CO2 emissions. This research studies biochar in the context of wetland restoration projects with regards to its potential use in increasing the survival rate of the wetland grass Glyceria striata (Poaceae) (Lam.) Hitchc. (fowl mannagrass) greenhouses for future re-introduction into restored sites. In greenhouse trials, we tested three different application rates (10%, 50%, 75% by volume [v/v]) of charged and uncharged biochar added to soil in combination with a commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculant. The aboveground biomass (shoot mass), belowground biomass (root mass), and the shoot height of 166 G. striata plants were recorded after 92 days of growth. Trends for sampling data were modeled using generalized linear models (GLMs) produced by the statistical package R. Results indicated that the 50% (v/v) application rate of charged biochar that was not in combination with AMF produced the greatest response in growth possibly due to the change in pH and nutrient availability accompanying this treatment. DNA analysis using AMF-specific PCR primers also indicated that G. striata does support AMF which is, to our knowledge, the first recorded evidence of this particular symbiosis. However, in most cases, fungal inoculation was not found to play a significant role in the growth of G. striata in our greenhouse setting. In the future, this project could be expanded to include field trials in restoration sites using material grown in soil amended with our recommendation of 50% (v/v) of charged biochar. More research is needed to study the relationship and potential interactions between biochar and AMF, particularly when biochar is charged with nutrients.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1476