Biochar Improves the Growth of Urban Sweet Cherry

Abstract

The use of biochar in urban green infrastructure is increasing in cities. Creating a carbon sink by using biochar is a working technique that is available for the city planners and has been viewed as an attractive soil remediation solution. Biochar is mainly used to improve the soil conditions for urban trees and the long-term effect on tree growth is important to evaluate. Soil amended with biochar may have increased water and nutrient holding capacities, the soil texture may be improved, and the microbial community may change. These characteristics are more or less permanent and the long-term effect on the growth of the trees is important to evaluate. Biochar was added to the construction soil when sweet cherry trees were planted alongside a road in a suburban residential area in Sweden. The growth of the trees was determined for six years after establishment. Trees growing in the biochar-amended soil grew faster than the other trees. The circumference was 35% greater after six years. The N level was higher and the P level lower in the trees growing in the soil with added biochar, indicating that the growth increase may be due to increased N availability in the soil as a response to the biochar addition.