Effect of Biochar Amendments on Peach Replant Disease

Abstract

The use of biochar as a soil amendment has generated interest all over the world, and it has been advocated as a means to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon. The objective of this study was to test if the use of pinewood biochar could reduce the detrimental effects of replant disease (RD) on peach tree growth and biomass production. An RD-susceptible peach rootstock, Lovell, was grown in soil from a peach replant site (control), sterilized soil (sterilized), and biochar-amended soil at 10% and 20% (v/v) [low biochar (LB) and high biochar (HB), respectively], all from the same site. Trunk diameter increase was measured weekly; total aboveground and belowground biomass was determined by harvesting a subsample of plants at 11, 22, and 33 weeks after planting. Soil samples, and foliar and root tissue samples were collected before each harvesting date and analyzed for nutrient content. Total aboveground and belowground biomass production was significantly higher in the biochar and sterilized soil treatment (S) compared with the control. Root carbon (C*) content was significantly greater in the HB treatment compared with the control. Soil nitrate-N was significantly greater in the HB treatment by the third harvesting date, and foliar magnesium (Mg) concentrations were significantly higher in both biochar treatments for all harvesting dates. The results from this study provide evidence that biochar may alleviate RD in peach trees.