Abstract
Direct seeding is a common large-scale restoration practice for revegetating arid and semi-arid lands, but success can be limited by moisture and temperature. Seed coating technologies that use biochar may have the potential to overcome moisture and temperature limitations on native plant germination and growth. Biochar is a popular agronomic tool for improving soil properties, such as water availability and nutrient retention and has been recently marketed, but not tested, as a seed coating. We analyzed the effect of biochar seed coating thicknesses on the germination and growth of four plant species native to western United States: mountain brome (Bromus marginatus), prairie junegrasss (Koeleria cristata), Wyeth's buckwheat (Eriogonum heracleoides), and western yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Across different temperature and water potential treatments using environmental chambers and polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions, biochar coating applied at different thicknesses had either a neutral or negative effect on germination for all species. In the field, biochar seed coatings slightly improved mountain brome root weight and prairie junegrass cover. Our results, alongside the high economic expense of native plant seed and direct seeding operations, suggest that biochar, by itself, may not be an appropriate seed coating for improving native plant establishment.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
