Above and belowground functional trait response to biochar addition in seedlings of six tropical dry forest tree species
Lanuza, Oscar R. (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Espelta Morral, Josep Maria (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Peguero, Guille (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)

Additional title:	Above and belowground demographic and functional trait responses to biochar addition in seedlings of six tropical dry forest tree species
Date:	2025
Abstract:	The addition of biochar as a soil amendment has great potential for ecological restoration and long-term carbon (C) storage. However, few studies have evaluated the functional trait responses of tree seedlings to increasing application rates of biochar and almost no information is available for tropical dry forests (TDF). Here, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to quantify effects of rates of biochar (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 t/ha) on demographic and functional traits of six tree species used in TDF restoration programs. After 100 days of growth, we found no negative effects of biochar on seedling survival and only in two of the species the highest dose applied slightly reduced the final biomass. The addition of biochar increased leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and specific leaf area (SLA) of all species. Greater variation in above-and below-ground trait responses to biochar was due more to inter-specific (52%) and intra-specific (36%) differences than main effects of biochar (11%), although we found that 81% of the variation in the LCC was due to the addition of biochar. We found a positive effect of biochar on morphological traits related to C gain and physiological tolerance to drought (higher dry mass content of root, leaf, and stem, LCC, SLA, and leaf area ratio). Therefore, we suggest that applications of biochar between 5 and 30 t/ha do not compromise the early growth of the seedlings of the studied species, and even may improve their growth capacity and drought resistance during their establishment in the field.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021-132627B-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-1333
Note:	Altres ajuts: Fundación Ramón Areces Grant CIVP20A6621
Rights:	Aquest material està protegit per drets d'autor i/o drets afins. Podeu utilitzar aquest material en funció del que permet la legislació de drets d'autor i drets afins d'aplicació al vostre cas. Per a d'altres usos heu d'obtenir permís del(s) titular(s) de drets.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Biochar ; Biomass allocation ; Intraspecific trait variability ; Plasticity ; Soil amendment ; Tropical dry forests
Published in:	New Forests, Vol. 56, Issue 1 (January 2025) , art. 3, ISSN 1573-5095

DOI: 10.1007/s11056-024-10074-6

Available from: 2026-01-31 Postprint 23 p, 905.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles