The Effect of Biochar Used as Soil Amendment on Morphological Diversity of Collembola

Iwona Gruss, Jacek P. Twardowski, Agnieszka Latawiec, Jolanta Królczyk and Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek
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Iwona Gruss: Department of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Jacek P. Twardowski: Department of Plant Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Agnieszka Latawiec: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Informatics, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-149 Kraków, Poland
Jolanta Królczyk: Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Production Automation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, 45-271 Opole, Poland
Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek: Institute of Soil Sciences and Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 53, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: Biochar was reported to improve the chemical and physical properties of soil. The use of biochar as a soil amendment have been found to improve the soil structure, increase the porosity, decrease bulk density, as well increase aggregation and water retention. Knowing that springtails (Collembola) are closely related to soil properties, the effect of biochar on morphological diversity of these organisms was evaluated. The main concept was the classification of springtails to the life-form groups and estimation of QBS-c index (biological quality index based on Collembola species). We conducted the field experiment where biochar was used as soil amendment in oilseed rape and maize crops. Wood-chip biochar from low-temperature (300 °C) flash pyrolysis was free from PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and other toxic components. Results showed that all springtail life-form groups (epedaphic, hemiedaphic, and euedaphic) were positively affected after biochar application. The QBS-c index, which relates to springtails’ adaptation to living in the soil, was higher in treatments where biochar was applied. We can recommend the use of Collembola’s morphological diversity as a good tool for the bioindication of soil health.

Keywords: biochar; biological soil quality; Collembola life-form groups; QBS-c index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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