Short- and long-term impacts of plant-biochar-soil interactions on soil carbon cycling in a subtropical pasture

Abstract

While biochar has been widely promoted for its potential to stabilise soil organic carbon (SOC), many laboratory and glasshouse studies (mainly short-term) have demonstrated that biochar can increase (positive priming) and/or lower (negative priming) mineralisation of SOC. There is a clear knowledge gap on both biochar carbon (C) longevity, its priming effects on SOC, and recent root-derived C, under field conditions. This knowledge would allow the potential contribution of biochar to long-term soil C sequestration to be understood. Understanding plant -biochar-soil interactions (Chapter 1) over the long term is crucial to accurately predict the C storage potential of biochar-amended soil, additional to its intrinsic C content.