Influence of Biochar and Earthworms

on Mycorrhizal Colonization, Plant

Growth, and Fusarium Crown and Root
Rot of Asparagus
W. H. Elmer,
The Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station
P. O. Box 1106,
New Haven, 06504
 Replanting asparagus usually fails

No VAM

VAM
Allelopathy from
Fusarium crown rotting residues inhibits
and root rot young plants
F. oxysporum

Low soil levels of

beneficial microbes
like vesicular
arbuscular mycorrhizae
F. proliferatum (VAM)
Two new strategies to reduced the replant
problem

• Earthworms Canadian Night

Crawlers (Lumbricus terrestris)

• Biochar = form of activated

carbon
Earthworms

• Increase aeration, flocculation, water-

holding capacity, and fertility of soil.
• Suppress soilborne diseases.

• Problems
Earthworm densities in asparagus soils are
typically low due, in part, to toxic root
residues, chemical inputs, and low food
substrates.
 Earthworms Feeding Studies

1 day later
25 Earthworms

Ground alfalfa
sprinkled on top
 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

G A AR M G A AR M
G A AR

M AR G A M AR G A AR A
Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

AR AR

AR AR AR

M = Sterile millet, AR = Asparagus Roots, G = Grape leaves, A = alfalfa

Biochar
Objectives

To examine whether or not earthworms and

biochar applied alone or in combination could:

• Improve growth

• Suppress Fusarium crown and root rot

• Increase VAM colonization of roots

 Effect of earthworms (4 adult/pot)

Control Earthworms

Control Earthworms
Actinomycetes

Burrows
Control Earthworms
Effect of earthworms on asparagus root
weight, crown rot, and fluorescent
pseudomonads
Root weight % Roots Fluor. Pseud.
(g) lesions (Log cfu/g soil)
CK 28 14 5.12

EW 44* 7* 6.18*
Effect of biochar
Three rates, none, low, or high (0, 1.6 % or 3.2 %
w/w.

Three rates of allelochemicals none, low, or high (0,

5.0 or 50.0 µg/ml)

In autoclaved and naturally infested soil.

Equal 3 x 3 x 2 = 18 treatments, 12 reps.
 Root weights (g) Disease severity
11 60
Autoclaved soil
10 50

Disease ratings (%)

9 40

8 30

7 20
Untreated Untreated
6 Allelochemicals (5.0 µg/ml, 50 ml) Allelochemicals (5.0 µg/ml, 50 ml)
Root weight (g)

10
Allelochemicals (50.0 µg/ml. 50 ml) Allelochemicals (50.0 µg/ml. 50 ml)
5 0

Colonies Fusarium spp./ cm root

10 Fusarium-Infested soil
0.5

9
0.4
8

0.3
7

6 0.2

5 0.1
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Biochar rate
Biochar (% w/w)
Biochar
Biochar (% w/w)rate
Biochar protects asparagus from allelochemicals
and from Fusarium crown rot.

Control Allelochemicals Allelochemicals

plus biochar

Allelochemicals Allelochemicals
plus Biochar
Effect of biochar on VAM

% VAM root colonization

40

30 Control
20

10 Allelochemicals
added
0
0 1.6 3.2
VAM
Biochar % w/w
 Effect of earthworms and biochar on
root disease ratings
30

25
Infested soil
20

15

10

CK EW BC EW&BC CK EW BC EW&BC
Field Studies
in progress
Summary
• Earthworms have a positive effect on
root health of asparagus by
increasing beneficial microbes.

•Biochar negates the deleterious

effects of allelochemicals and may
indirectly promote root health by
increasing VAM fungi.
Challenges

• Combining earthworms and biochar

presents many obstacles.

• Technological advances are needed to

increase the availability of earthworms.
New Technology
Challenges

• Biochar production needs to increase to

make it affordable.
Acknowledgements

Dr. Joe Pignatello CAES

Dr. Clive Edwards Ohio State University
Mr. Peter Thiel CAES
Ms. Caitlin Steckler CAES
Ms. Christina Connelly CAES