ABSTRACT Biochar is increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance crop growth and soil health, yet its efficacy on cropping systems in Atlantic Canada remains underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of wood‐based biochar, enriched with liquid dairy manure (LDM) or liquid seaweed extract (LSE) or unenriched, applied as a seed coating or broadcast (3 or 5 t ha ‐1 ), on wheat growth, yield, and soil properties. Three experiments (namely germination, pot‐based greenhouse, and field trials) were conducted to assess biochar′s impact compared to inorganic fertilizer and control treatments. Germination experiments showed that unenriched biochar and LDM significantly increased shoot length by 27%–29% compared to controls, while LDM reduced root length by 11%. In greenhouse pot experiment, both biochar application methods increased biomass – shoots by nearly 100% and root by about 30% – compared to controls, with seed‐coated biochar performing comparably to broadcast applications; the LSE treatment did not significantly affect shoot biomass, root biomass, or the root‑to‑shoot ratio. In contrast, two field trials conducted in Kings and Colchester Counties, Nova Scotia in 2024, revealed no significant differences in yield; neither broadcast nor seed‐coating application methods influenced plant growth and seed yield. Several soil nutrient levels showed minor interaction effects with biochar, but organic matter and total nitrogen content remained unchanged. These findings suggest that while biochar demonstrates growth‐promoting effects under controlled conditions, short‐term field responses in Atlantic soils may be limited, underscoring the need for longer‐term and site‐specific evaluation to optimize biochar integration into regional cropping systems.
Morcom et al. (Sun,) studied this question.