Dr. Bryan Sales, a researcher and Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at UNC Pembroke, will be joining other researchers for a webinar series about biochar and its agricultural applications.   The webinar is free but registration is required.  Click the download link at the bottom of this page for the webinar schedule and for additional information.  You can learn more about Dr. Sales and his role in the webinar in the text below.

Name in the Biochar Webinar Program:



Dr. Bryan Sales

University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP)

Assistant Professor of Biology

Biosketch

Dr. Bryan Sales, Assistant Professor of Biology at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, is a research horticulturist and agronomist. His research focuses on the use of organic soil amendments to improve the production of horticultural crops. Dr. Sales has investigated the use of sustainable sources of carbon and soil nutrients such as biochar and nitrogen enriched soil amendments for the establishment and production of Northern Highbush Blueberry. Dr. Sales mentors both graduate and undergraduate students in agricultural research projects. Dr. Sales teaches several courses in the Biology Department including Techniques in Horticulture, Sustainable Agriculture, Soils and Hydrology, General Botany, and Plant Physiology.

Title of Talk: Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Blueberry Production

Description:



Dr. Sales will summarize the findings from his research on the use of biochar, as a soil amendment, in the production of Northern Highbush Blueberry. The biochar was incorporated in mineral soils at 10 and 20% by volume in a 12-week greenhouse study and a 2-year field study. In both experiments, biochar increased plant dry weight, fruit yield, and mycorrhizal root colonization. However, biochar did not suppress root rot in blueberry, and likely increased disease severity.