Challenges in organic component selection and biochar as an opportunity in potting substrates: a review

Zulfiqar, Faisal; Allaire, Suzanne; Akram, Nudrat Aisha; Méndez, Ana; Younis, Adnan; Peerzada, Arslan Masood; Shaukat, Narmeen; Wright, Shawn R.

doi:10.1080/01904167.2019.1617310

Cited by 41 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 104 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, some of these materials cannot be used directly. They either contain pathogens, are not stable, or have high water [65] or nutrients content. In some cases, the legal basis needs also be clarified.…”

Section: Compost As a Bioresource And Growing Media Constituentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biochars contain various amounts of different micronutrients in addition to P and K. These nutrients are usually slowly available to plants much like slow release fertilizers, rather than being immediately available [65]. However, there are some problems that need to addressed.…”

Section: Biochar and Hydrothermal Carbonization Products As Bioresourmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies reported that biochar in potting media results in the same ornamental plant growth as in peat-based standard substrates [65,145,146]. According to Kern et al [25], char materials must not necessarily remain on the level of a minor ingredient, but have the potential to be used as major constituents.…”

Section: Greenhouse Ornamental Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Decreasing arable land, rising urbanization, water scarcity, and climate change exert pressure on agricultural producers. Moving from soil to soilless culture systems can improve water use efficiency, especially in closed-loop systems with a recirculating water/nutrient solution that recaptures the drain water for reuse. However, the question of alternative materials to peat and rockwool, as horticultural substrates, has become increasingly important, due to the despoiling of ecologically important peat bog areas and a pervasive waste problem. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive critical review of current developments in soilless culture, growing media, and future options of using different materials other than peat and rockwool. Apart from growing media properties and their performance from the point of view of plant production, economic and environmental factors are also important. Climate change, CO 2 emissions, and other ecological issues will determine and drive the development of soilless culture systems and the choice of growing media in the near future. Bioresources, e.g., treated and untreated waste, as well as renewable raw materials, have great potential to be used as growing media constituents and stand-alone substrates. A waste management strategy aimed at reducing, reusing, and recycling should be further and stronger applied in soilless culture systems. We concluded that the growing media of the future must be available, affordable, and sustainable and meet both quality and environmental requirements from growers and society, respectively.

show abstract

Section: Compost As a Bioresource And Growing Media Constituentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biochar and Hydrothermal Carbonization Products As Bioresourmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A distinct feature of container production is that plants are grown in confined volume filled with growing medium or substrate [4]. A major component of substrate is peat [5] due to its desirable physiochemical characteristics [6]. In Europe, the volume of organic substrate used for the nursery sector amounts to 34.6 million m 3 per annum, of which 27 million m 3 is composed of peat [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of peat as growing media, however, has caused ecological concerns [8] because peat is a non-renewable resource, and peatland is a sink of carbon dioxide [9,10]. As a result, peat has become costlier for commercial use [5,11], and there is an increasing need for alternative organic materials to replace or partially replace peat for the production of container plants [5,12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar or Biochar-Compost Amendment to a Peat-Based Substrate Improves Growth of Syngonium podophyllum

2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing demand for sustainable and low-cost alternatives to peat is a challenge in the production of container-grown plants. Biochar (BC) and compost, as eco-friendly materials, could be used to completely or partially substitute for peat. However, information regarding plant responses to the substitution is limited. This study evaluated effects of the amendment of a BC or a BC-compost mixture (BioComp) to a peat-based substrate at 20% by volume on the growth of Syngonium podophyllum. BC was pyrolyzed from wheat straw at 350 °C. Compost was made from farm green waste. BC or BioComp amendment elevated the pH and electrical conductivity of formulated substrates and improved plant growth. Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and chlorophyll in leaves and the net photosynthetic rate of plants grown in BC or BioComp amended substrates were significantly higher than those grown in the control substrate. Total soluble protein and total phenolic contents were greater in plants grown in BC- or BioComp-amended substrates as well, but no significant difference occurred in reactive oxygen-related enzymatic activities, reducing power or proline contents across substrates. Our results show that BC or BioComp can be used to replace 20% of peat by volume, and such replacement enhanced S. podophyllum growth.

show abstract

Effects of biochar and compost addition in potting substrates on growth and volatile compounds profile of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Nocentini,

Mastrolonardo,

Michelozzi

et al. 2023

J Sci Food Agric

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundDespite the optimal characteristics of peat, more environmental‐friendly materials are needed in the nursery sector, which however must guarantee specific quantitative and qualitative commercial standards. In this work, we evaluated the influence of biochar and compost as peat surrogates on yield and essential oil profile of two different varieties of basil (Ocimum basilicum var. Italiano and O. basilicum var. minimum). In two 50‐days pot experiments, we checked the performances of biochar from pruning of urban trees and composted kitchen scraps, both mixed in different proportions with commercial peat (first experiment), and under different N fertilization regimes (second experiment), in terms of plant growth and volatile compounds profile of basil.ResultsTotal or high substitution of peat with biochar (100% and 50% v.v.) or compost (100%) resulted in seedlings death after few days from transplantation, probably because of the growing media's too high pH and electrical conductivity. Substrates with lower substitution rates (10‐20%) were underperforming in term of plant growth and color compared to pure commercial peat during the first experiment, while better performances were obtained by the nitrogen‐fertilized mixed substrates in the second experiment, at least for one variety. We identified a total of 12 and 16 aroma compounds of basil (mainly terpenes) in the two experiments. Partial replacement of peat did not affect basil volatile organic compounds content and composition, while N fertilization overall decreased the concentration of these compounds.ConclusionOur results support a moderate use of charred or composted materials as peat surrogates.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

show abstract

Challenges in organic component selection and biochar as an opportunity in potting substrates: a review

Cited by 41 publications

References 104 publications

Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems

Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems

Biochar or Biochar-Compost Amendment to a Peat-Based Substrate Improves Growth of Syngonium podophyllum

Effects of biochar and compost addition in potting substrates on growth and volatile compounds profile of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About