Biochar And Ecosystem Recovery: Evaluating Artificial Regeneration Outcomes And Understory Plant Community Dynamics In Response To Top-Dress Amendments In Northern Minnesota

Abstract

Recurring and severe droughts present significant obstacles to successful forest regeneration. Biochar soil amendments have emerged as a promising possible solution, providing the dual benefit of mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration while enhancing forest soil health in areas facing regeneration challenges. These amendments improve seedling drought resilience through enhanced cation exchange capacity, water retention, and nutrient availability. However, existing research in forested systems is limited, and primarily focuses on short-term impacts of the amendment on soil nutrients, physical properties, and microbial communities. Researchers have identified a need for long-term, site-specific research regarding how biochar affects forests' growth and stand dynamics. Over a five-year period, we investigated the effects of two different doses of top-dressed biochar soil amendments on tree growth across four different species. Our study did not reveal significant positive effects of biochar on seedling growth or survival over this period. However, it also did not indicate any negative influence on seedling survival or growth. Notably, each species exhibited distinct response patterns, suggesting potential trends deserving further investigation and emphasizing the importance of temporal scale in such studies. Additionally, our analysis of vegetative community composition and structure in response to the biochar amendments revealed distinct species-community responses, indicating complex underlying mechanisms warranting further investigation. In summary, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of biochar’s role in post-disturbance vegetation recovery and sheds light on the variability in seedling response patterns influenced by biochar soil amendment. Emphasizing the significance of species-specific responses, as well as the potential ecosystem-wide cascading effects, our findings highlight the complexity of biochar applications and their interactions with both tree species and understory vegetation over time. This research adds to the growing body of knowledge on biochar applications in forestry, underscoring its potential benefits in reforestation and carbon sequestration efforts. Furthermore, it enhances our understanding of the potential long-term effects of biochar soil amendments on forest health, stand dynamics, and sustainable forest management practices in a changing climate.