Hydro-/Biochar application to sandy soils: impact on yield components and nutrients of spring wheat in pots

From hydro-/biochar application to soils positive effects on soil characteristics and as a consequence on yield of crops were expected. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of maize biochar and maize hydrochar (HTC-char) amendments treated with or without digestate, as well as a wood biochar, mixed with or without digestate and mineral nitrogen fertilizer on yield, yield components, nutrient contents and quality of spring wheat. Therefore, a pot experiment was set up. Yield, yield components and quality were mainly influenced by nitrogen fertilizer. The application of HTC-char could have negative effects on yield and yield components of spring wheat. Hydrochar treated with digestate had no negative effects on yield of spring wheat.     

Changes in δ15N in a soil–plant system under different biochar feedstocks and application rates

The application of biochar in soils has been hypothesised to improve soil quality whilst enhancing carbon (C) sequestration. However, its effect on nitrogen (N) dynamics in the soil–plant system is still not fully understood. In the present work, N isotope composition (δ¹⁵N) was used to facilitate the understanding of the processes involved in the N cycling when biochar is applied. We evaluated, through a wheat pot trial, the effect of different application rates of two types of biochar produced from jarrah and pine woodchips on the wheat biomass at harvest and on the soil and plant C and N contents and δ¹⁵N. In addition, the potential benefit of using nutrient-saturated biochar for the soil–plant system was also investigated. Whilst biochar produced from different feedstocks had similar effects on soil and plant nutrient contents, they induced differences in wheat grain biomass and plant δ¹⁵N. The effect of the biochar application rate was more pronounced, and at rates higher than 29 t ha^?1, the application of biochar decreased grain biomass by up to 39 % and potentially increased N losses. Isotopic analyses indicated that this acceleration of N dynamics had probably occurred before the stage of wheat grain formation. The application of nutrient-enriched biochar resulted in an improved wheat grain production, most likely due to the enhanced nutrient availability, and in reduced N cycling rates in the plant–soil system, which could offset the competition between biochar and plants for nutrients and could decrease adverse environmental impacts due to N losses.     

Biochar‐Based Fertilization with Liquid Nutrient Enrichment: 21 Field Trials Covering 13 Crop Species in Nepal

Biochar produced in cost‐efficient flame curtain kilns (Kon‐Tiki) was nutrient enriched either with cow urine or with dissolved mineral (NPK) fertilizer to produce biochar‐based fertilizers containing between 60–100 kg N, 5–60 kg P₂O₅ and 60–100 kg K₂O, respectively, per ton of biochar. In 21 field trials, nutrient‐enriched biochars were applied at rates of 0·5–2 t ha⁻¹ into the root zone of 13 different crops. Treatments combining biochar, compost and organic or chemical fertilizer were evaluated; control treatments contained same amounts of nutrients but without biochar. All nutrient‐enriched biochar substrates improved yields compared with their respective no‐biochar controls. Biochar enriched with dissolved NPK produced on average 20% ± 5·1% (N  = 4 trials) higher yields than standard NPK fertilization without biochar. Cow urine‐enriched biochar blended with compost resulted on average in 123% ± 76·7% (N  = 13 trials) higher yields compared with the organic farmer practice with cow urine‐blended compost and outcompeted NPK‐enriched biochar (same nutrient dose) by 103% ± 12·4% (N  = 4 trials) respectively. Thus, the results of 21 field trials robustly revealed that low‐dosage root zone application of organic biochar‐based fertilizers caused substantial yield increases in rather fertile silt loam soils compared with traditional organic fertilization and to mineral NPK or NPK‐biochar fertilization. This can be explained by the nutrient carrier effect of biochar, causing a slow nutrient release behaviour, more balanced nutrient fluxes and reduced nutrient losses, especially when liquid organic nutrients are used for the biochar enrichment. The results open up new pathways for optimizing organic farming and improving on‐farm nutrient cycling. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nutrient availability and corn growth in a poultry litter biochar‐amended loam soil in a greenhouse experiment

Nutrient‐rich biochar produced from animal wastes, such as poultry litter, may increase plant growth and nutrient uptake although the role of direct and indirect mechanisms, such as stimulation of the activity of mycorrhizal fungi and plant infection, remains unclear. The effects of poultry litter biochar in combination with fertilizer on mycorrhizal infection, soil nutrient availability and corn (Zea mays L.) growth were investigated by growing corn in a loam soil in a greenhouse with biochar (0, 5 and 10 Mg/ha) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer (0, half and full rates). Biochar did not affect microbial biomass C or N, mycorrhizal infection, or alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities, but acid phosphomonoesterase activities, water‐soluble P, Mehlich‐3 Mg, plant height, aboveground and root biomass, and root diameter were greater with 10 Mg/ha than with no biochar. Root length, volume, root tips and surface area were greatest in the fully fertilized soil receiving 10 Mg/ha biochar compared to all other treatments. The 10 Mg/ha biochar application may have improved plant access to soil nutrients by promoting plant growth and root structural features, rather than by enhancing mycorrhizal infection rates.     

生物炭及炭基硝酸铵肥料对土壤化学性质及作物产量的影响

为了促进生物炭研究和农用,采用盆栽试验研究了两种生物炭基氮肥及相应生物炭对土壤部分化学性质、养分状况及作物产量的影响。试验结果表明：施用生物炭基氮肥可显著提高土壤有机碳含量,提高土壤pH值、阳离子交换量、土壤速效磷、速效钾和矿质态氮含量,增强土壤保肥能力,促进作物增产。生物炭对土壤化学性质和养分状况虽有一定改善作用,但作物增产效应不明显甚至减产。因此,将生物炭与肥料复合制成生物炭基肥料不但可以保持生物炭改良土壤的功能,还可促进作物生长和增产,有利于生物炭农用效益的提升。     

Contributions of Nutrients in Biochar to Increase Spinach Production: A Pot Experiment

Studies have shown that biochar amendment could increase soil nutrient availability and crop production, but the contributions of nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the biochar to plant production need to be tested. A pot experiment was conducted to identify the effects of maize straw-based biochar (BC) amendment on spinach fresh yield and dry biomass production, compared with non-biochar non-fertilization control (CT) and non-biochar chemical fertilization (NBF, equivalent amounts of N, P, and K). After 50-day growth, fresh leaf yield was increased by 63.7% or 38.0% under BC or NBF than under CT, and by 18.7% under BC than under NBF. Meanwhile, both leaf dry biomass and total plant (leaves + roots) biomass were similar between BC and NBF, but significantly higher under BC (47.5% in total) and NBF (56.2% in total) than under CT. In addition, root dry biomass was similar between BC and CT, but significantly higher under NBF than under BC or CT. These results indicated that about 60% of the contributions to yield/biomass increase might be from nutrients in the biochar. On the one hand, plant N and K uptake was highest, but P uptake was lowest, under BC than under CT and NBF. On the other hand, significantly higher soil available N ranked as CT ≈ BC > NBF, soil available P as CT ≈ BC ≈ NBF, and soil available K as BC ≈ NBF > CT. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that nutrients in the biochar could contribute to plant growth significantly.     

Anaerobic co‐digestion of perennials: Methane potential and digestate nitrogen fertilizer value

Co‐digestion of crop biomass improves the traditional manure‐based biogas yield due to an increased content of easily degradable carbon compounds. In this study, the methane potential of three perennials (grass, legumes, and grass+legume) was determined using various amounts together with animal manure. The nitrogen (N) mineralization dynamics in soil and the N‐fertilizer value of the derived digestates were subsequently tested in both a soil incubation study and a pot experiment with spring barley. Digestion of all tested perennials together with a manure‐based inoculum increased the cumulative methane yield four to five times compared to digestion of the inoculum alone, with the highest increases observed with pure grass. However, the methane potential decreased along with increasing grass biomass concentration. In the plant pot experiment, all tested digestates increased barley shoot biomass by 40–170%, to an extent statistically comparable to mineral N fertilizer. However, the application of the digestate originating from fermentation with pure grass resulted in lower plant growth and a more fluctuating soil mineral N content throughout the incubation study compared to the other digestates. Considering the high dry matter and methane yield ha^?1, the possibility to substitute mineral N fertilizer inputs by leguminous biological N₂ fixation capacity, and the digestate fertilizer value, the integration of grass–legume mixtures or sole legumes into anaerobic digestion systems as co‐substrate for manure seems to be promising. This could furthermore contribute to the diversification of cropping systems for bioenergy production.     

Sewage sludge treated with bentonite,vermiculite or biochar can improve soil properties and enhance growth of grasses

Sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was evaluated as a soil amendment in comparison to limed and untreated sludge. Seven treatments were established to two soils, an acid and an alkaline, in three replications, i.e. 2% addition of sludge treated with bentonite, vermiculite, biochar and lime and application of 2% untreated sludge, inorganic fertilization and no sludge or inorganic fertilizers (control). Then, the soil treatments were used in a pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a test plant. Sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar improved pH of the acid soil and significantly increased organic matter and available nutrients of both soils compared to control. Although no salinity or sodicity hazard was evidenced, the initial salinity of acid and alkaline soil increased by four-eight and two-three times, respectively, upon addition of all sludge treatments, especially that of untreated sludge. Moreover, soil available zinc (Zn) increased by four-eight times. Soil application of sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar increased the total aboveground biomass yield of ryegrass in the acid and alkaline soil by 133%–171% and 72%–88%, respectively, compared to control and enhanced nutrient uptake by plants. Furthermore the microbial metabolic quotient indicated lack of low pH and heavy metal stress with addition of sludge to the acid soil. After three harvests of ryegrass, the residual effect of sludge on pH of acid soil and salinity, available phosphorus (P), Zn and boron (B) of both soils still persisted. Thus sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could be applied to soils at a rate of 2% (≈80 Mg ha⁻¹) to serve as soil amendment and fertilizer for grasses and pasture species; however, caution is needed regarding possible P build-up, Zn phytotoxicity and salinization risks.     

Biochar application to sandy soil: effects of different biochars and N fertilization on crop yields in a 3-year field experiment

During the past years, most biochar studies were carried out on tropical soils whereas perennial field experiments on temperate soils are rare. This study presents a 3-year field experiment regarding the effects of differently produced biochars (pyrolyzed wood, pyrolyzed maize silage, hydrothermal carbonized maize silage) in interaction with digestate incorporation and mineral N fertilizer application on soil C and N, crop yields of winter wheat, winter rye and maize and the quality of winter wheat. Soil C and plant available potassium were found to be significantly positive affected by pyrolyzed wood biochar whereas the latter only in combination with N fertilization. Crop yields of winter wheat, winter rye and maize were not affected by biochar and showed no interaction effects with N fertilizer supply. Wheat grain quality and nutrition contents were significantly affected by biochar application, for example, highest amounts of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were determined in treatments amended with pyrolyzed maize silage biochar. Biochar induced an improved availability of plant nutrients, which apparently were not yield limiting in our case. These results limit the potentials of biochar for sustainable intensification in agriculture by increasing crop yields for the temperate zones. However, detection of other environmental benefits requires further investigations.     

生物质炭基肥缓释性能及对土壤改良的研究进展

生物质炭基肥是以生物质炭为基质,与有机、无机肥料配制而成的新型生态环保缓释肥料,也作为土壤改良剂应用于农业生产中,近年来受到农业与环保领域的广泛关注和研究应用.本文讨论了生物质炭基肥缓释性能机制及影响因素,生物质炭基肥的缓释性能在很大程度上取决于磷、氮、钾元素与生物质炭的结合方式.主要结合方式包括静电吸附、络合、矿化等...     

Biochar derived from dairy cattle carcasses as an alternative source of phosphorus and amendment for soil acidity

Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate biochar derived from dead dairy cattle as a mineral fertilizer, especially phosphorus (P) fertilizer, and to clarify the effect of particle size of biochar on plant growth (Zea mays L.) and P uptake. To produce the biochar, body parts of dead cattle were placed in a charring chamber and allowed to char at 450°C for 4 h. The biochar was of high pH and rich in major plant nutrients, especially P. Application of fine biochar (< 1 mm) increased P uptake by the corn plants grown in soil of low available P status. As a result, plant growth was improved following biochar application and dry matter production was also increased. The effect of the biochar application on the P uptake and plant growth was promoted by the application of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Soil analysis after harvest indicated that the biochar application increased soil pH, available P and exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) compared with the soil before seeding, while soil available N and exchangeable potassium (K) were considerably decreased. The decrease in the soil available N was incomprehensible, because the result of the mass balance given by the difference between input as the applied N from the biochar and fertilizer N and output as the N uptake by the plants was positive. We observed a similar result in the mass balance of K to the case of N. The medium (2–4 mm) and coarse (> 4 mm) grade biochar did not significantly affect plant growth, because P uptake was not, or was only slightly, increased by the application of these biochars. Dissolution of P from the coarser biochars was probably slower than that of the fine biochar. The lower dissolution of P from the medium and coarse biochars was supported by the lower P absorption efficiency of these biochars compared with that of the fine biochar and superphosphate. The effect of fine biochar on plant growth and P uptake was similar to that of superphosphate. We can therefore conclude that fine biochar derived from cattle carcasses is an effective source of P fertilizer and amendment for soil acidity. The N and K contents in the biochar, although relatively high, cannot be relied upon as a mineral fertilizer. Further studies are needed to assess whether the N and K contents of the biochar indicate it can be regarded as a useful fertilizer.     

Rice straw biochar amended soil improves wheat productivity and accumulated phosphorus in grain

Abstract

Biochar is a pyrolyzed biomass produced under limited oxygen or oxygen absent conditions. Few investigations have been conducted to determine the combined effect of biochar with chemical fertilizer on growth, yield and nutrient distribution pattern in root, shoot and grain in wheat as well as changes in soil physiochemical properties. This research was designed to study the combined effect of chemical fertilizer and rice straw-derived biochar on soil physio-chemical properties, growth, yield and nutrient distribution pattern within wheat plant tissue and grain. Results showed that rice straw biochar caused a significant decrease in soil pH and increase in soil organic matter as well as nutrients like total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and boron (B) due to incubation. Result also showed that root biomass and straw did not differ between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and ½ BARC?+?rice straw biochar treatment. Similarly, thousand grain weight and grain yield did not differ between the same treatments. The phosphorus concentration in wheat grain was highest in ½ BARC?+?rice straw biochar as compared to other treatments. The use of rice straw biochar in addition to the chemical fertilizers in wheat production systems is an economically feasible and practical nutrient management practice. Our findings urged that reduction of chemical fertilizer application is possible with supplementation of rice straw biochar.     

生物质炭与氮肥配施对土壤养分和谷子生长的影响

为探寻生物质炭与氮肥配施对谷子生长及土壤的影响,本研究以晋谷21为试材,采用盆栽试验,完全随机设计,研究了生物质炭(C0,0 g·kg^-1;C1,20 g·kg^-1;C2,40 g·kg^-1)与氮肥(N0,0 g·kg^-1;N1,0.133 g·kg^-1;N2,0.266 g·kg^-1)配施对土壤养分、谷子根系形态、光合作用、干物质积累等的影响。结果表明,生物质炭与氮肥均明显提高了土壤养分含量,其中C2N2增幅最大,碱解氮含量较C0N0提升了61.03%。生物质炭对谷子光合作用、根系形态、干物质积累有明显的促进作用,同一生物质炭水平下,谷子光合作用、根系形态、干物质积累对氮肥的响应均表现为低促高抑;与C0N0相比,C2N1效果最佳,其地上部干重增幅最大,为129.24%。综上,生物质炭与适量氮肥配施可改良土壤养分状况,促进干物质在地上部积累。本试验条件下,C2N1效果最佳。该结果可为谷子减肥增效提供一定的理论基础。     

基于二次通用旋转设计的杉木苗期施肥营养诊断研究

林木苗期营养诊断和施肥研究是制定合理施肥方案的前提,能为提高苗木质量和造林成活率提供重要的科学依据。以福建漳平五一国有林场多年筛选的速生型杉木为试验材料,通过开展室内模拟不同的土壤养分条件,采用二次通用旋转设计的施肥方法,根据杉木生物量划分高、低产组,利用DRIS营养诊断的图解法和指数法,计算杉木适宜的施肥范围及需肥顺序。结合图解法和指数法两种分析方法得出:杉木植株中氮、磷、钾养分的适宜比值范围为P/N=0.137±0.03,N/K=1.102±0.113,K/P=6.881±1.203;处理7(施氮量为0.511 g/盆,施磷量为0.270 g/盆,施钾量为1.339 g/盆)的平衡状态最佳。总体而言,速生型杉木对钾肥的需求量相对较大,对磷肥的需求量次之,对氮肥的需求相对较弱。     

Biochar nutrient availability rather than its water holding capacity governs the growth of both C3 and C4 plants

Purpose

Biochar has been suggested as a soil conditioner to improve soil fertility and crop productivity while simultaneously mitigate global climate change by storing carbon in the soil. This study investigated the effect of pine (Pinus radiata) biochar application on soil water availability, nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) pools and growth of C3 and C4 plants.

Materials and methods

In a glasshouse pot trial, a pine biochar (untreated) and nutrient-enriched pine biochar were applied to a market garden soil with C3 (Spinacia oleracea L.) and C4 (Amaranthus paniculatus L.) plants at rates of 0, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 % (w/w). Plant biomass, soil pH, moisture content, water holding capacity (WHC), hot water extractable organic C (HWEOC), and total N (HWETN), total C and N, and their isotope compositions (δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N) of soils and plants were measured at the end of the experimentation.

Results and discussion

The soil moisture content increased while plant biomass decreased with increasing untreated biochar application rates. The addition of nutrient-enriched biochar significantly improved plant biomass in comparison to the untreated biochar addition at most application rates. Biochar application also increased the levels of labile organic C and N pools as indicated by HWEOC and HWETN.

Conclusions

The results suggested that the addition of pine biochar significantly improved soil water availability but not plant growth. The application of nutrient-enriched pine biochar demonstrated that the growth of C3 and C4 plants was governed by biochar nutrient availability rather than its water holding capacity under the pot trial condition.

     

Physical activation of biochar and its meaning for soil fertility and nutrient leaching – a greenhouse experiment

The slow alteration of the surface of charred biomass (biochar) over time may contribute to an improved nutrient retention and thus fertility of tropical soils. Here, we investigated soils from temperate climates and investigated whether a technical steam activation of biochar could accelerate its positive effects on nutrient retention and uptake by plants relative to nonactivated biochar. To this aim, we performed microcosm experiments with sandy or silty soil, mixed with 2.0, 7.5 and 15.0 g/kg soil of fine (<2 mm) or coarse‐sized (2–10 mm) biochar from beech wood (Fagus sp.). After initial fertilizer (NPK), ashes and excess nutrients were leached with water, and the microcosms were planted for 142 days with Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum). Thereafter, leachate, soil and plant samples were analysed for their nutrient contents. The results showed that biochar additions of ≤15 g/kg soil left elevated contents of available P and N in the surface soil but reduced their uptake into the plants. As a result, total biomass production was unchanged. Different particle size and application amounts influenced these findings only marginally. Nitrate leaching was enhanced in the sandy soil (+41% for nitrate, but reduced in the silty soil ?17%) and P was immobilized. Hence, the fertility of the temperate soils under study was only marginally affected by pure biochar amendments. Steam activation, however, almost doubled the positive effects of biochars in all instances, thus being an interesting option for future biochar applications.     

稻壳炭对红壤理化特性及芥菜生长的影响

本文探讨了不同热解温度制备的稻壳炭的基本性质,并通过盆栽试验研究了500℃热解稻壳炭添加量对南方红壤理化性质和芥菜产量的影响。结果表明:稻壳炭添加量3%、5%和10%三个处理显著改善了红壤的理化性质,土壤体积质量较对照处理依次降低0.11、0.28和0.42 g/cm~3,p H由4.5分别增加到7.5、7.8、8.4,CEC依次增加52.16%、187.02%和214.35%,土壤有机质、速效磷和速效钾显著增加,但稻壳炭添加量10%处理的土壤碱解氮含量降低。稻壳炭对芥菜的养分含量、产量等指标影响较为显著,随着施炭量的增加,芥菜的生物量增加,叶片全氮从1.63 g/kg增加到2.44 g/kg,全磷从2.32 g/kg增加到3.09 g/kg,全钾从47.1 g/kg增加到56.7 g/kg,产量由108.37 g/盆增加到608.7 g/盆。总之,添加5%的500℃热解稻壳炭有效改善了酸度较强的红壤的理化性质,促进了芥菜的生长和增收以及对氮磷钾养分的吸收和储存。在红壤改良上,稻壳炭的最佳添加比例为5%。     

15N示踪法研究生物炭施用对水稻—土壤系统氮肥去向的影响

为探究施用水稻秸秆生物炭对水稻产量、氮肥利用率、氮肥残留及损失的影响,采用盆栽试验结合¹⁵N示踪技术,分析了施用水稻秸秆生物炭对水稻生物量、氮素积累量、肥料氮去向以及氨氧化微生物的影响。研究共设置5个处理:不施氮肥(N0)、单施化肥(CF)、施化肥配施0.5%生物炭(BC1)、施化肥配施1%生物炭(BC2)和施化肥配施2%生物炭(BC3)。结果表明:与CF处理相比,BC2和BC3处理均显著提高水稻产量,增产率分别为19.3%和22.0%。施用生物炭显著增加水稻氮素积累量和表观利用率。施用生物炭的水稻籽粒肥料氮积累和总肥料氮积累量较CF处理分别提高18.6%~23.4%和18.5%~26.5%。然而,施用生物炭处理与CF处理之间的籽粒土壤氮吸收量没有显著差异。BC1、BC2和BC3处理的氮肥利用率分别为30.4%,28.5%和29.3%,均显著高于CF处理(24.1%)。施用生物炭有利于肥料氮在土壤中的 残留,从而减少损失。因此,施用生物炭的肥料氮损失率(25.7%~27.5%)显著低于单施化肥处理(38.4%)。与CF处理相比,高量施用生物炭(BC3)显著降低氨氧化细菌的amoA基因拷贝数,但施用生物炭对氨氧化古菌丰度没有显著影响。综上表明,施用水稻秸秆生物炭是提高水稻产量和氮肥利用率,同时还是有效减少氮素损失的一种有效措施。     

Long-term microbial control of nutrient availability and plant biomass in a subarctic-alpine heath after addition of carbon, fertilizer and fungicide

A long-term field experiment lasting more than a decade was conducted on a subarctic fellfield to investigate effects of changes in nutrient availability on soil microbial C, N and P, soil nutrients, vascular plant biomass and plant-microbial interactions. Additions of NPK fertilizer, labile C (sugar) and fungicide (benomyl) were done in a fully factorial design, replicated in six blocks. The treatments were run for ten years and soil and vegetation samples were collected four years after initiating the experiment, and again after an additional 12 years, to evaluate the long-term effects. Labile C addition resulted in increased microbial biomass and nutrient immobilization after four years, and a long-term decrease in vascular plant biomass, thus suggesting the microorganisms to strongly control soil nutrient availability in periods of high microbial biomass. Fertilization increased the inorganic and total soil nutrient pools of N and P and the fine root biomass, but not the total aboveground vascular plant biomass. The vascular plant biomass increased due to benomyl addition thus indicating the plants to be strongly affected by the microbial community. Overall, the effects of benomyl resulted in more lasting changes in the soil compared to labile C and fertilizer addition. In relation to environmental changes, the indicated strong microbial control of the available nutrients in the fellfield ecosystem might limit ecosystem changes due to increased soil nutrient availability as otherwise expected in arctic soils.     

Effect of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production

Recently, biochar has shown to be an alternative to waste disposal and a source of nutrients, acting as a soil amendment. The effects of two types of biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production as well as potential for carbon (C) sequestration were evaluated:biochar produced from sewage sludge (SB) and biochar produced from a 1:1 mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (MB). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a sandy loam soil from the Brazilian savanna under treatments of MB applications at 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0%, SB application at 5.0%, and a conventional fertilization (CF) using lime and mineral fertilizers, with no fertilization as a control. After incubation for 45 d, seedlings were transplanted into each pot and cultivated for 55 d. Biochar characterization showed that pyrolysis reduced the biomass volume drastically, but concentrated the trace elements per unit of biochar weight. The MB treatments increased soil total C (by 27.8%) and pH (by 0.6), reduced the concentrations of nutrients, except for potassium (K), and chromium (Cr), and did not significantly alter lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Results of stable isotopes showed that all biochar treatments increased the total soil C stock and stability, suggesting a potential for application in C sequestration, and improved overall soil fertility. However, the biochar treatments also increased the concentrations of trace elements in the soil and plants. The sugar beet yields at 10.0% MB and 5.0% SB corresponded to 55% and 29% of the yield obtained in the CF treatment, respectively. These results may be due to biochar nutrients not being bioavailable when required by plants or to biochar nutrient adsorption.