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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data supporting the results of this study is published under CC by 4.0 license at the figshare repository: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25013753.v1.
References
Ågren GI, Wetterstedt JÅM, Billberger MFK (2012) Nutrient limitation on terrestrial plant growth – modeling the interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus. New Phytol 194:953–960. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04116.x
Akhtar SS, Li G, Andersen MN, Liu F (2014) Biochar enhances yield and quality of tomato under reduced irrigation. Agric Water Manag 138:37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.02.016
Amissah L, Mohren GMJ, Bongers F et al (2021) Plant traits shape tree species drought survival and distribution along a rainfall gradient in Ghana. Ghana J for 37:1–30
Bastin J-F, Finegold Y, Garcia C et al (2019) The global tree restoration potential. Sci (80-) 365:76–79. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax0848
Bates D, Mächler M, Bolker B, Walker S (2015) Fitting Linear mixed-effects models using lme4. J Stat Softw 67. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
Biederman LA, Harpole WS (2013) Biochar and its effects on plant productivity and nutrient cycling: a meta-analysis. GCB Bioenergy 5:202–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12037
Brown LA, Williams O, Dash J (2022) Calibration and characterisation of four chlorophyll meters and transmittance spectroscopy for non-destructive estimation of forest leaf chlorophyll concentration. Agric Meteorol 323:109059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2022.109059
Chave J, Muller-Landau HC, Baker TR et al (2006) Regional and phylogenetic variation of wood density across 2456 neotropical tree species. Ecol Appl 16:2356–2367
Chazdon RL, Broadbent EN, Rozendaal DMA et al (2016) Carbon sequestration potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the latin American tropics. Sci Adv 2:e1501639. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1501639
Cheng C, Lehmann J, Thies JE, Burton SD (2008) Stability of black carbon in soils across a climatic gradient. J Geophys Res Biogeosciences 113:G02027. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JG000642
Clough T, Condron L, Kammann C, Müller C (2013) A review of Biochar and Soil Nitrogen dynamics. Agronomy 3:275–293. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy3020275
Cook-Patton SC, Leavitt SM, Gibbs D et al (2020) Mapping carbon accumulation potential from global natural forest regrowth. Nature 585:545–550. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2686-x
Dai Y, Zheng H, Jiang Z, Xing B (2020) Combined effects of biochar properties and soil conditions on plant growth: a meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 713:136635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136635
Drake JA, Cavagnaro TR, Cunningham SC et al (2016) Does Biochar improve establishment of Tree seedlings in saline sodic soils? L Degrad Dev 27:52–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2374
Fagbenro JA, Oshunsanya SO, Oyeleye BA (2015) Effects of Gliricidia Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizer on Moringa Plant grown in an Oxisol. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 46:619–626. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2015.1005222
Fatichi S, Leuzinger S, Körner C (2014) Moving beyond photosynthesis: from carbon source to sink-driven vegetation modeling. New Phytol 201:1086–1095. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12614
Gale NV, Thomas SC (2019) Dose-dependence of growth and ecophysiological responses of plants to biochar. Sci Total Environ 658:1344–1354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.239
Gale NV, Halim MA, Horsburgh M, Thomas SC (2017) Comparative responses of early-successional plants to charcoal soil amendments. Ecosphere 8:e01933. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1933
Gao S, DeLuca TH, Cleveland CC (2019) Biochar additions alter phosphorus and nitrogen availability in agricultural ecosystems: a meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 654:463–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.124
Georgiou K, Jackson RB, Vindušková O et al (2022) Global stocks and capacity of mineral-associated soil organic carbon. Nat Commun 13:3797. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31540-9
Gonzalez Sarango EM, Valarezo Manosalvas C, Mora M et al (2021) Biochar amendment did not influence the growth of two tree plantations on nutrient-depleted Ultisols in the south Ecuadorian Amazon region. Soil Sci Soc Am J 85:862–878. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20227
Griscom BW, Adams J, Ellis PW et al (2017) Natural climate solutions. Proc Natl Acad Sci 114:11645–11650. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710465114
Haase DL (2008) Understanding forest seedling quality: measurements and interpretation. Tree Plant Notes 52:24–30
Hacke UG, Sperry JS, Pockman WT et al (2001) Trends in wood density and structure are linked to prevention of xylem implosion by negative pressure. Oecologia 126:457–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420100628
IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] (2022) Summary for policymakers. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pörtner H-O et al (eds) Global warming of 1.5°C. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, pp 1–24
Irfan M (2017) Potential value of biochar as a soil amendment: a review. Pure Appl Biol 6:1494–1502. https://doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.600161
Jacobsen AL, Ewers FW, Pratt RB et al (2005) Do xylem fibers affect Vessel Cavitation Resistance? Plant Physiol 139:546–556. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.104.058404
Jeffery S, Abalos D, Prodana M et al (2017) Biochar boosts tropical but not temperate crop yields. Environ Res Lett 12:053001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa67bd
Lanuza OR, Espelta JM, Peñuelas J, Peguero G (2020) Assessing intraspecific trait variability during seedling establishment to improve restoration of tropical dry forests. Ecosphere 11:e03052. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3052
Lee JW, Hawkins B, Day DM, Reicosky DC (2010) Sustainability: the capacity of smokeless biomass pyrolysis for energy production, global carbon capture and sequestration. Energy Environ Sci 3:1695. https://doi.org/10.1039/c004561f
Lefebvre D, Román-Dañobeytia F, Soete J et al (2019) Biochar effects on two Tropical Tree species and its potential as a Tool for Reforestation. Forests 10:678. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10080678
Lehmann J, Joseph S (2015) Biochar for environmental management: an introduction. In: Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds) Biochar for environmental management, 2nd edn. Routledge, London, pp 1–13
Lehmann J, Cowie A, Masiello CA et al (2021) Biochar in climate change mitigation. Nat Geosci 14:883–892. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00852-8
Lewis SL, Wheeler CE, Mitchard ETA, Koch A (2019) Restoring natural forests is the best way to remove atmospheric carbon. Nature 568:25–28. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01026-8
LI R, GUO P, Michael B et al (2006) Evaluation of Chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters as indicators of Drought Tolerance in Barley. Agric Sci China 5:751–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1671-2927(06)60120-X
Liao W, Thomas S (2019) Biochar particle size and Post-pyrolysis Mechanical Processing Affect Soil pH, Water Retention Capacity, and Plant Performance. Soil Syst 3:14. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010014
Liu X, Zhang A, Ji C et al (2013) Biochar’s effect on crop productivity and the dependence on experimental conditions—a meta-analysis of literature data. Plant Soil 373:583–594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1806-x
Lüdecke D, Ben-Shachar M, Patil I et al (2021) Performance: an R Package for Assessment, comparison and testing of statistical models. J Open Source Softw 6:3139. https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.03139
Markesteijn L, Poorter L (2009) Seedling root morphology and biomass allocation of 62 tropical tree species in relation to drought- and shade‐tolerance. J Ecol 97:311–325. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01466.x
McMurtrie RE, Norby RJ, Medlyn BE et al (2008) Why is plant-growth response to elevated CO2 amplified when water is limiting, but reduced when nitrogen is limiting? A growth-optimisation hypothesis. Funct Plant Biol 35:521. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08128
Olmo M, Villar R, Salazar P, Alburquerque JA (2016) Changes in soil nutrient availability explain biochar’s impact on wheat root development. Plant Soil 399:333–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2700-5
Pérez-Harguindeguy N, Díaz S, Garnier E et al (2013) New handbook for standardised measurement of plant functional traits worldwide. Aust J Bot 61:167–234. https://doi.org/10.1071/BT12225
Poorter L (1999) Growth responses of 15 rain-forest tree species to a light gradient: the relative importance of morphological and physiological traits. Funct Ecol 13:396–410. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2435.1999.00332.x
Poorter L, Markesteijn L (2008) Seedling traits Determine Drought Tolerance of Tropical Tree species. Biotropica 40:321–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00380.x
Poorter H, Nagel O (2000) The role of biomass allocation in the growth response of plants to different levels of light, CO2, nutrients and water: a quantitative review. Funct Plant Biol 27:1191. https://doi.org/10.1071/PP99173_CO
Poorter H, Niinemets Ü, Poorter L et al (2009) Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis. New Phytol 182:565–588. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02830.x
Poorter H, Niklas KJ, Reich PB et al (2012) Biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots: meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control. New Phytol 193:30–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03952.x
Poorter L, Castilho C, Schietti J et al (2018) Can traits predict individual growth performance? A test in a hyperdiverse tropical forest. New Phytol 219:109–121. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15206
Qian X, Liu L, Croft H, Chen J (2021) Relationship between Leaf Maximum Carboxylation Rate and Chlorophyll Content preserved across 13 species. J Geophys Res Biogeosciences 126. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JG006076. e2020JG006076
R Core Team (2019) R: a Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing
Ruiz Gómez VL, Savé Monserrat R, Lanuza Lanuza OR et al (2021) Evolución de la temperatura y precipitación en cuatro estaciones meteorológicas, ubicadas en la región norcentral de Nicaragua, Centroamérica. Rev Científica FAREM-Estelí 38:197–212. https://doi.org/10.5377/farem.v0i38.11952
Schneider CA, Rasband WS, Eliceiri KW (2012) NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nat Methods 9:671–675. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.2089
Siefert A, Violle C, Chalmandrier L et al (2015) A global meta-analysis of the relative extent of intraspecific trait variation in plant communities. Ecol Lett 18:1406–1419. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12508
Smith P (2016) Soil carbon sequestration and biochar as negative emission technologies. Glob Chang Biol 22:1315–1324. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13178
Spokas KA, Cantrell KB, Novak JM et al (2012) Biochar: a synthesis of its agronomic impact beyond Carbon Sequestration. J Environ Qual 41:973–989. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2011.0069
Sterck FJ, Duursma RA, Pearcy RW et al (2013) Plasticity influencing the light compensation point offsets the specialization for light niches across shrub species in a tropical forest understorey. J Ecol 101:971–980. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12076
Thomas SC, Gale N (2015) Biochar and forest restoration: a review and meta-analysis of tree growth responses. New for 46:931–946. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-015-9491-7
Vilà-Cabrera A, Martínez‐Vilalta J, Retana J (2015) Functional trait variation along environmental gradients in temperate and Mediterranean trees. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 24:1377–1389. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12379
Wang J, Xiong Z, Kuzyakov Y (2016) Biochar stability in soil: meta-analysis of decomposition and priming effects. GCB Bioenergy 8:512–523. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12266
Werden LK, Alvarado JP, Zarges S et al (2018) Using soil amendments and plant functional traits to select native tropical dry forest species for the restoration of degraded vertisols. J Appl Ecol 55:1019–1028. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12998
Woolf D, Amonette JE, Street-Perrott FA et al (2010) Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change. Nat Commun 1:56. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1053
Xiang Y, Deng Q, Duan H, Guo Y (2017) Effects of biochar application on root traits: a meta-analysis. GCB Bioenergy 9:1563–1572. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12449
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank González-Zamora, J.M; López-Cruz, R.E; Gutiérrez-Cruz T.U for their invaluable assistance with the fieldwork.
Funding
No funding was received for conducting this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Oscar Lanuza, with supervision of Guille Peguero. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Oscar Lanuza and Guille Peguero with contributions and ideas of Josep M. Espelta and Josep Peñuelas. All authors edited, critically reviewed, and finally approved the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Lanuza, O.R., Peñuelas, J., Espelta, J.M. et al. Above and belowground functional trait response to biochar addition in seedlings of six tropical dry forest tree species. New Forests 56, 3 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-024-10074-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-024-10074-6