Enhancing Soils of Labrador through Application of Biochar, Fishmeal, and Chemical Fertilizer

A multi-year experiment was conducted in the sandy, acidic soils of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HV-GB), Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to evaluate the effects of hardwood biochar on soil fertility, and to ascertain its nutrient supplying capability when applied singly or in combination with fishmeal and chemical fertilizers. The experiment was set up on a permanent layout and in a randomized block design with 10 treatments resulting from combinations of biochar (20 Mg C ha(-1)) with half and full recommended doses of fertilizers and fishmeal. In the control and biochar only treatments the beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedlings did not grow at all, and in the fertilizer or fishmeal alone treatments the survival, growth, and biomass yields were severely affected. However, biochar application along with fertilizer or fishmeal enhanced crop establishment, growth, and yields. Biochar application increased topsoil pH by 0.5 unit and availability of Ca, K, and Mn by 186, 19, and 2.6 mg L-1, respectively. Plant tissue contents of N, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn were greater in non-biochar treatments (NBT) than in biochar treatments (BT), but the opposite was found for K. Despite greater nutrient contents in NBT for some elements, plant uptake (kg ha(-1)) of nutrients in BT were always much greater than NBT due to higher biomass yield in BT. The positive effects of biochar observed in this study demonstrate that biochar has the potential to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity of sandy, acidic soils that are similar to the regional soils of Labrador.