Capacity of biochar application to maintain energy crop productivity: soil chemistry, sorghum growth, and runoff water quality effects.

Pyrolysis of crop biomass generates a by-product, biochar, which can be recycled to sustain nutrient and organic C concentrations in biomass production fields. We evaluated effects of biochar rate and application method on soil properties, nutrient balance, biomass production, and water quality. Three replications of eight sorghum [ (L.

Effect of turfgrass establishment practices and composted biosolids on water quality.

Land application of composted municipal biosolids (CMB) enhances soil physical properties and turf establishment. Yet large, volume-based rates of CMB can increase nonpoint source losses of sediment and nutrients from urban soils to surface waters. The objectives were (i) to compare runoff losses of sediment, N, P, and organic C among contrasting establishment treatments for bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.

Biosolid and alum effects on runoff losses during turfgrass establishment.

Large, volume-based rates of composted biosolids (CB) enhance turfgrass establishment and soil properties, but nonpoint-source runoff losses could occur during production and after transplanting of sod. The objective was to evaluate runoff losses of N, P, sediment, and organic C during establishment of sprigs or transplanted sod of Tifway bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.

Compartmentation of sucrose during radial transfer in mature sorghum culm.

Background: The sucrose that accumulates in the culm of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and other large tropical andropogonoid grasses can be of commercial value, and can buffer assimilate supply during development. Previous study conducted with intact plants showed that sucrose can be radially transferred to the intracellular compartment of mature ripening sorghum internode without being hydrolysed.

Runoff water quality from turfgrass established using volume-based composted municipal biosolids applications.

Municipal programs for turfgrass establishment recommend large volume-based application rates of composted municipal biosolids (CMB). This study compared runoff water quality among combinations of two common turfgrass establishment practices and two CMB sources. Bryan- or Austin-CMB were incorporated into 5 cm of soil at a rate of 12.