Raw crop yield data Sample Clauses

Raw crop yield data. NORTH Total Fruit weight (lbs) Percent change from control Biochar 315 208 215 738 -4 -3 -6 -5 Compost ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ 758 -4 1 -2 -2 Mix 280 211 216 707 -15 -2 -6 -9 Control 329 214 230 773 NA NA NA NA SOUTH Total Fruit weight (lbs) Percent change from control Biochar 263 184 271 718 -6 12 -5 -2 Compost 309 182 279 769 10 10 -2 5 Control 281 165 286 732 NA NA NA NA Meta-analysis by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al (2011) of biochar effects on the yields of other row crops from both field and lab studies, suggests that the greatest positive effects on crop yield accrue from the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ effect of the biochar, and its improvements to water holding capacity and nutrient availability. Maintaining a soil pH greater than 6.5 is important to Brussels sprouts growth in this location, but in the field trial, the pre- planting lime application likely precluded this benefit of the biochar-only and mix soil amendments. Biochar particles are negatively charged and can improve nutrient retention and availability in soils with low cation exchange capacity (CEC), but the field trial soils had sufficient CEC levels, and this specific benefit of biochar was unlikely for this location. However, increased soil organic matter (SOM) may have been a mechanism for improved crop yield in some areas since this factor affects water-holding capacity and nutrient retention. Comparison of SOM and crop yields between the two test plots suggested that increased SOM levels due to the treatments in one test plot may have had a beneficial effect on crop yields, relative to the other test plot where SOM levels were not affected by treatments. Studies have also shown that the application of a biochar-only treatment can initially have a negative effect on bioavailability of nutrients in the soil. Biochar binds well to positively charged nutrients [e.g., calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and ammonium (NH4)] that are essential for plant growth. Over time, this effect can enable biochar to act as a slow-release fertilizer in the soil, but initially it can limit nutrient availability. In one of the test plots, the first year crop yield results were relatively low in biochar-only treated soils, and much higher in compost-only treated soils. This suggested that these nutrient dynamics occurred and that nutrient availability played a role in plant growth for these soils. However, poor crop yields from mix treated soils in the first year relative to the other treatments and control conditions were con...