Charred biomass residues (biochar) refers to biomass-derived charcoal, obtained when biomass is “baked” under low or no oxygen conditions (pyrolysis). Biochar is spread on agricultural fields and incorporated into the top layer of soil. The application of biochar to soils is considered one of the most promising strategies to sustainably sequester atmospheric CO2 in agricultural soils. Furthermore, biochar has many agricultural benefits such as crop yields increment, fertilizer runoff and leeching prevention, moisture retention. However, not all biochars are the same as a result of differences in both parent-material and conditions of the pyrolysis. Moreover, biochar seems to increase soil temperature in the top soil layer raising much interest on the indirect influence on plant growth. Very little relevant data are currently available concerning plant root development in relation to above mentioned issues.

The present project will focus on the integrated approach of morphological and ‘omics’ analysis to investigate the response of agronomics’ plant root system to both direct biochar applications and indirect soil temperature variations. The research activities will focus on three main levels of investigations:
1. analysis of the effects of biochar treatments on root growth and morphology;
2. analysis of the effects of biochar treatment on soil temperature
3. identification of molecular factors modulating the effects of different soil treatments on root growth and morphology;
4. analysis of root metabolite profiles in differently treated soil.

All the planned analysis will be performed on root systems, of different agronomic plants growing in the following conditions: 1. Untreated soil (US) which will represent the control condition; 2. Soil fertilized with N,K,P (FS); 3. Soil treated with compost (CS); 4. Soil treated with biochar from olive trees’ pruning (BSO) and from grape plants’ pruning (BSG) ; 5. Soil treated with compost plus biochar (CBS).