1. The Effect of Biochar on the growth of Quercus serrata and
Prunus sargentii seedlings in a containerized seedling production system
Byung Bae Park1, Si Ho Han1, Afroja Rahman1*, Loth Meng1, Ji- Hye Song1, Youngtak Ko1, Min Seok Cho2
(1Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University,
2Forest Practice Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science)
Introduction
Results
Growth pattern for Quercus serrata
Biochar is a kind of charcoal produced under high temperatures using crop residues, animal manure, or any type of organic waste material (Kelsi, 2010). It has been used to improve soil properties for producing high quality seedlings. Soil addition, it can help to push the soil health with positive benefits to plant seedling growth and disease resistance. But the biomaterials and pyrolysis temperature have great influences on the physical and chemical characteristics of biochar.
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different types of biochar Quercus serrata and Prunus sargentii seedling growth in containerized system.
Table 3. Height of Quercus serrata
Height of Quercus serrata(cm)
Types of
Biochar
50% fertilization
100% fertilization
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Control
15.32
17.89
18.51
19.17
16.11
17.46
18.13
18.76
White charcoal
9.86
11.92
12.66
12.58
8.36
10.56
11.91
11.66
Black charcoal
12.31
15.16
15.85
17.18
12.76
14.49
15.08
15.46
Bamboo
11.20
14.83
15.43
15.88
10.62
13.00
13.46
14.57
Methods and Materials
Fig 6. Height of Quercus serrata
Height is higher in control and black charcoal
in both fertilization
Study Area
Table 4. Root collar diameter of Quercus serrata
- Green house in
Chungnam National University.
- Mean temperature 13.8 oC
- Mean humidity 67.7%.
RCD of Quercus serrata(mm)
Types of
Biochar
50% fertilization
100% fertilization
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Control
1.63
2.23
2.68
2.95
1.66
2.20
2.60
3.01
White charcoal
1.50
1.89
2.28
2.52
1.76
2.04
Black charcoal
1.71
2.30
2.71
3.02
1.58
2.06
2.44
2.85
Bamboo
2.19
2.89
1.39
1.88
2.32
2.63
Fig 1. Green house’s at Chungnam National University
Species
Species: Quercus serrata
Prunus sargentii
- Pot description : 31x40 cm, 400ml, 20 holes
Fig 7. RCD of Quercus serrata
For RCD, control and black charcoal was higher
in both fertilization
Fig 2. Quercus serrata
Fig 3. Prunus sargentii
Treatments
Table 5. Dry weight of Quercus serrata
Control, White charcoal, Black charcoal, Bamboo biochar
Fertilization : 2 levels of fertilization - 0.5g/L (50%), 1 g/L(100%), Once a week
- Watering- Watering was done everyday automatically
Dry weight of Quercus serrata (g/tree)
Types of
biochar
50% fertilization
100% fertilization
Leaf
Stem
Root
Control
4.27
4.18
5.37
4.22
4.17
5.30
White charcoal
3.99
4.02
4.72
3.80
3.82
4.75
Black charcoal
5.21
3.95
4.14
4.91
Bamboo
4.06
5.04
3.84
3.88
4.82
Biochar
White Charcoal
Black Charcoal
Bamboo Charcoal
Fig 8. Dry weight of Quercus serrata
Dry weight of Quercus serrata also higher in control and black charcoal
Growth pattern for Prunus sargentii
Table 6. Height of Prunus sargentii
Height of Prunus sargentii (cm)
Types of
Biochar
50% fertilization
100% fertilization
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Control
21.47
25.42
26.41
26.36
20.46
26.34
27.33
27.46
White charcoal
12.09
17.49
18.38
18.93
12.43
20.94
21.88
22.01
Black charcoal
19.36
23.97
24.91
24.67
17.47
23.84
24.81
24.53
Bamboo
16.30
19.18
20.04
19.94
17.20
20.87
21.93
22.29
Species: Oak tree
Temp : >1200 oC
Species: Oak tree
Temp : oC
Species: Bamboo
Temp : >1000 oC
Fig 4. Different biochar
Fig 9. Height of Prunus sargentii
Height was higher in control and black charcoal in 100% than 50% fertilization
Table 7. Root collar diameter of prunus sargentii
RCD of Prunus sargentii (mm)
Types of
Biochar
50% fertilization
100% fertilization
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Control
1.51
2.76
3.60
4.03
1.56
2.75
3.48
3.91
White charcoal
1.38
2.57
3.47
4.06
1.35
2.53
3.56
4.39
Black charcoal
1.58
2.93
3.78
4.22
1.48
3.04
3.92
4.42
Bamboo
1.42
2.60
3.40
3.88
1.36
2.73
3.58
Fig 5. Mixing fertilization
Fig 6. Automatic watering system
Measurements
- Root collar diameter : measured from 1cm
above the soil
- Height: from upper soil to end of leaf
- Dry weight: separated to leaf, stem and root (washed in water)
Fig 10. RCD of Prunus sargentii
Fig 5. Measurement of Root collar diameter and
height (left)and washing root (right)
RCD was higher in control and black charcoal in 100% than 50% fertilization
Table 1. Properties of Fertilization(MultiFeed20)
Table 2. Chemical Properties of treatments
Elements
Concentrations
Macro nutrients (%)
Total N 20
Nitrate N 6
Ammonium N 4
Ureic N 10
Phosphorus(P2O5)
Potassium(K2O)
Table 7. Root collar diameter of prunus sargentii
 Treatment
OM%
Chemical Properties
Total
N % P
mg/Kg
Cation
(cmolc kg-1) K+
Ca2+
Mg2+
Control
Soil
40.31
0.27
0.43
9.07
6.41
 White
charcoal
 598.22
0.39 
 9.18
 0.40
 0.88
 Black
 36.62
 0.44
 3.73
 3.57
 Bamboo
 31.32
 0.36
 0.57
 1.98
 0.17
Dry weight of Prunus sargentii (g/tree)
Types of
biochar
Half fertilization
Standard fertilization
Leaf
Stem
Root
Control
4.30
4.62
5.73
4.45
4.71
5.55
White charcoal
4.43
4.41
5.58
4.64
4.57
5.97
Black charcoal
4.36
4.63
5.96
4.54
4.75
Bamboo
4.44
5.79
4.46
4.59
5.63
Fig 11. Dry weight of Prunus sargentii
- Dry weight was higher in black charcoal in 100% fertilization