Background and aims Integrating biochar (BC) into agriculture promotes sustainable management of farm residues and carbon sequestration in soil. This study evaluates a novel approach combining suspended biochar with phosphorus (P) fertilizer to assess its effectiveness in promoting P nutrition during early maize ( Zea mays L . ) growth. Methods Biochar suspension (equivalent to 300 kg dry biochar ha −1 ) was mixed with liquid...

Aims This study investigated the influence of climate and soil on the exudation rate and polysaccharide composition of aerial nodal root mucilage from drought-resistant and drought-susceptible maize varieties. Methods Two maize varieties were grown in two different soils (sandy-clay loam Acrisol and loam Luvisol) under simulated climatic conditions of their agroecological zones of origin in Kenya and Germany. The exudation rat...

Purpose Mucilage plays crucial roles in root-soil interactions. Collection systems for maize ( Zea mays L.) use primary and seminal roots of aeroponically-grown seedlings (CS A ), or brace roots of soil-grown plants (CS B ). While each method represents specific plant developmental stages, and root types growing in specific (micro-)environments, these factors are rarely considered. It is unclear whether mucilage exhibits disti...

Aims Visualization of enzymatic activity links microbial functioning to localization in heterogeneous soil habitats. To assess enzymatic reactions in soil thin layer at the microscopic level, we developed a micro-zymography approach and tested it by visualization of the potential activity of phosphomonoesterase for aggregates collected from the rhizosphere of Zea mays L. Methods We evaluated micro-zymography by applying fluoro...