Assessment of biochar and hydrochar as minor to major constituents of growing media for containerized tomato production

Fornés, F.; Belda, Rosa M.; Córdova, Pascual Fernández de; Cebolla-Cornejo, Jaime

doi:10.1002/jsfa.8227

Cited by 35 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, optimized biochar and fertilizer application do not have the same impacts on different plant species and selection should be on a plant-species based strategy. Biochar production is of different organic materials including urban wastes (garden pruning waste), agricultural waste (straw, residue from greenhouse crops, olive-mill waste, by-products from vineyards), food waste, digestate, and even sewage sludge [55][56][57], and different sources of organic material result in different biochar quality, as presented in Table 1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biochar can be used as an alternative component in growing media, positively affecting plant growth/yield, but also media properties. In the present study, two commercial grade biochars (BFW-forest wood; and BTS-fresh wood screening), mainly wood-based materials, were used at 7.5% and 15% (v/v), adding nutrient in two levels (100% and 150% standard fertilizer level-Fert). Biochar affected growing media properties, with increases on pH and changes on the nutrient content levels. Biochar BFW enhanced the emergence of seeds in comparison to the control. Increased fertilizer levels benefited plant yield in BFW and BTS at 7.5%, but not at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was reduced at 150% fertilized biochars (BFW + Fert and BTS + Fert) at 7.5%, while total chlorophylls increased at BTS + Fert at 7.5% and 15%. The addition of biochars decreased the antioxidant activity in the plant. Lipid peroxidation in lettuce was increased in most cases with the presence of biochars (BFW, BTS) and 150% fertilization, activating antioxidant (superoxide oxidase and peroxidase) enzymatic metabolisms. The addition of Biochars in the growing media increased the content of nutrients in seedlings, as plants could absorb more available nutrients. Biochar of beech, spruce, and pine species (BFW) at 7.5% was more promising for substituting peat to produce lettuce seedlings. However, examining different species (tomato, leek, impatiens, and geranium) with BFW at 7.5%, the results were not common, and each species needs to be evaluated further.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Biochar can actively restore carbon to the soil, affecting environmental parameters such as carbon footprint, and therefore, is attracting research interest for a wide range of applications in the environment, agriculture and horticulture fields [46]. In the current work, biochar application was evaluated as a growth medium amendment, as different types of biochar can have different properties and cause various effects on plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the successful application is related to the biochar type (raw material), the ratios and to the levels of fertilizers. It is known that biochar has been effectively produced from various organic materials including municipal solid wastes (garden pruning waste), agricultural (straw, greenhouse crop residues, olive-mill waste, vineyard by-products), food waste, digestate and even sewage sludge [46,48,49]. Additionally, according to reports "not all biochars are produced in the same way".…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biochar Type and Ratio as a Peat Additive/Partial Peat Replacement in Growing Media for Cabbage Seedling Production

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biochar has been proposed mainly as a soil amendment, positively affecting plant growth/yield, and to a lesser degree for growing media. In this study, four commercial grade biochars (A-forest wood; B-husks and paper fiber; C-bamboo and D-fresh wood screening), mostly wood-based materials, were selected. Initial mixtures of peat (P) with different Biochar type and ratios (0-5-10-15-20%) were selected for cabbage seedling production. Biochar material had high K content and pH ≥ 8.64 which resulted in increased pH of the growing media. Biochar A and C at 20% reduced cabbage seed emergence. Biochar A, B and D maintained or improved plant growth at low ratio (i.e., 5–10%) while all Biochars increased N, K and P content in leaves. Biochars A and D were further examined at 7.5% and 15% with the addition of two doses of minerals (1-fold and 1.5-fold). Biochar A and D, initially stimulated seed emergence when compared to the control. High dose of fertilizer favored plant growth in Biochar A at 7.5% and Biochar D at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was decreased at Biochar A+Fert at 7.5% and Chlorophyll b content was decreased at Biochar A+Fert at 15%. The presence of Biochar A increased the antioxidant activity (as assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-DPPH). Lipid peroxidation was higher in plants grown with fertilized peat and Biochar A at 15%, activating antioxidant enzymatic metabolisms. Potassium, phosphorous and copper accumulation and magnesium deficiency in cabbage leaves were related to the Biochar presence. Wooden biochar of beech, spruce and pine species (Biochar A) at 7.5% and fertilized biochar of fruit trees and hedges (Biochar D) were more promising for peat replacement for cabbage seedling production.

show abstract

“…In addition to production conditions, biochars could be made from varying feedstocks, which would contribute to differences in physical and chemical properties ( Table 1). The feedstocks could be waste materials such as green waste [18], forest waste [46,47], wheat straw [5], sugarcane bagasse [48], rice hull [49], crab shell [50] and Eucalyptus saligna wood chips (byproduct of construction, fuel-wood and pulp wood) [51]. Biochars could also be made from non-waste materials such as holm oak [52], conifer wood [53], citrus wood [54] and pine wood [6,[55][56][57].…”

Section: Biochar Feedstocksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Biochar on Container Substrate Properties and Growth of Plants—A Review

Huang

Gu²

2019

Horticulturae

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biochar refers to a processed, carbon-rich material made from biomass. This article provides a brief summary on the effects of biochar on container substrate properties and plant growth. Biochar could be produced through pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal carbonization of various feedstocks. Biochar produced through different production conditions and feedstocks affect its properties and how it performs when incorporated in container substrates. Biochar incorporation affects the physical and chemical properties of container substrates, including bulk density, total porosity, container capacity, nutrient availability, pH, electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity. Biochar could also affect microbial activities. The effects of biochar incorporation on plant growth in container substrates depend on biochar properties, plant type, percentage of biochar applied and other container substrates components mixed with biochar. A review of the literature on the impact of biochar on container-grown plants without other factors (such as irrigation or fertilization rates) indicated that 77.3% of the studies found that certain percentages of biochar addition in container substrates promoted plant growth, and 50% of the studies revealed that plant growth decreased due to certain percentages of biochar incorporation. Most of the plants tested in these studies were herbaceous plants. More plant species should be tested for a broader assessment of the use of biochar. Toxic substances (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxin) in biochars used in container substrates has rarely been studied. Caution is needed when selecting feedstocks and setting up biochar production conditions, which might cause toxic contaminants in the biochar products that could have negative effects on plant growth.

show abstract

Assessment of biochar and hydrochar as minor to major constituents of growing media for containerized tomato production

Cited by 35 publications

References 24 publications

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

Biochar Type and Ratio as a Peat Additive/Partial Peat Replacement in Growing Media for Cabbage Seedling Production

Effects of Biochar on Container Substrate Properties and Growth of Plants—A Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About