1. Biochar for Sand-Based Root-Zone Modification
NICK CHRISTIANS
SHANE BROKHOFF
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

2. Sand-based turfgrass root-zone United States Golf Association (USGA)
BIOCHAR AND TURF
Sand-based turfgrass root-zone
United States Golf Association (USGA)

3. BIOCHAR AND TURF turf Sand-based turfgrass root-zone
United States Golf Association (USGA)

4. Why biochar and turf… Root-zone mix Intermediate layer Coarse gravel
Drainage tile
(USGA, 1993)
sand:peat moss
90:10 or 80:20

5. OBJECTIVES Sand and biochar root-zone mix:
soil water retention properties
saturated hydraulic conductivity
rooting depth of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.)
chemical properties

6. BIOCHAR switchgrass (Panicum virgatum FAST PYROLYSIS
Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies (CSET) at Iowa State University

7. Treatments Six volume-to-volume mixtures of biochar and sand Treatment
Sand : Char 1
100 : 0 2
95 : 5 3
90 : 10 4
85 : 15 5
80 : 20 6
75 : 25

11. Ksat of Six Biochar and Sand Treatment Mixtures (n=4)

14. Chemical properties Leachate Soil Electroconductivity (EC) pH
Total organic carbon (TOC)
Nutrient analyses
Soil

15. LEACHATE pHpH
Biochar percentage (v/v)

16. LEACHATE P
Biochar percentage (v/v)

17. Soil K
LEACHATE K
Biochar percentage (v/v)

18. Conclusions Biochar increases soil water retention
Biochar decreases saturated hydraulic conductivity
Biochar decreases rooting depth of creeping bentgrass in media containing more than 10% (v/v) biochar
Biochar increases leachate EC, TOC; provides essential nutrients