Comparison of biochars derived from wood pellets and pelletized wheat straw as replacements for peat in potting substrates

Vaughn, Steven F.; Kenar, James A.; Thompson, Arthur R.; Peterson, Steven C.

doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.10.010

Cited by 176 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…To examine effects of pH on substrate suitability for plant growth, pH was adjusted for one set of replicated experimental substrates (0-70% BC) to a target pH of 5.8, as this pH is considered optimum and is standard in soil-free substrates (Vaughn et al, 2013;Verdonck et al, 1982). Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH) 2 ] was used to increase substrate pH (0 and 10% BC) to pH 5.8, and pyroligneous acid (PLA) produced by pyrolysis of almond shell (pH 2.30, 0.59 mol L −1 ) (Corigin, LLC, Livermore, CA) was used to decrease substrate pH (20-70% BC) to pH 5.8.…”

Section: Substitution Treatments and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By evaluating an alkaline BC at high volumetric rates in soil-free substrates, this study addresses a potential obstacle to the feasibility of BC-based substrates for plant production (Fryda and Visser, 2015;Vaughn et al, 2013). The present data demonstrate that substituting a softwood BC with strongly alkaline pH (10.9) for peat at high rates in soil-free substrates (up to 70% of total volume) does not require pH adjustment under common greenhouse conditions (e.g., fertigation) because germination, shoot biomass and N content, and flowering of marigold did not significantly differ between substrates with and without initial adjustment to pH 5.8.…”

Section: Ph Adjustment Of Soil-free Substrates With Bcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the high pH of many BCs (Lehmann and Joseph, 2012;Mukome et al, 2013) could result in BC-substituted substrates with pH values unfavorable to plant growth. For example, pelleted wood BC (720-755°C) substitution for peat (< 15% (v/v) required adjustment of pH due to the liming effect of the BC (Vaughn et al, 2013). The neutral to alkaline pH of BCs and their liming potential (Glaser et al 2002;Hass et al, 2012;Van Zwieten et al, 2010) means that BC substitution for peat can increase pH beyond optimum for plant growth in potting media (Fryda and Visser, 2015;Steiner and Harttung, 2014;Vaughn et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, pelleted wood BC (720-755°C) substitution for peat (< 15% (v/v) required adjustment of pH due to the liming effect of the BC (Vaughn et al, 2013). The neutral to alkaline pH of BCs and their liming potential (Glaser et al 2002;Hass et al, 2012;Van Zwieten et al, 2010) means that BC substitution for peat can increase pH beyond optimum for plant growth in potting media (Fryda and Visser, 2015;Steiner and Harttung, 2014;Vaughn et al, 2013). Explicit evaluation of BC effects on substrate pH and plant performance provides a basis to improve design of BC-based substrates and inform trade-offs in this application of BC (Jeffery et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Margenot

Griffin

Alves

et al. 2018

Industrial Crops and Products

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A B S T R A C TPeat moss has historically been a key component of soil-free substrates in the greenhouse and nursery industries. However, the increasing expense of peat, negative impacts of peat mining on wetland ecosystems, and growing perception of peat as unsustainable have led to investigation for alternatives. Biochar (BC) is a promising substitute for peat, yet the majority of studies examine additions of BC to peat-based substrates rather than replacing the peat component or employ relatively low substitution rates. Furthermore, at high substitution rates the alkalinity common to many BCs may increase substrate pH and adversely impact plant production. We evaluated BC substitution for peat and pH adjustment of resulting substrates on marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) performance under standard greenhouse conditions. A high pH (10.9) softwood BC (800°C) was substituted for peat in a standard 70:30 (v/v) peat:perlite mixture at 10% total volume increments. Substrate pH was either not adjusted or adjusted to pH 5.8 using a BC by-product, pyroligneous acid (PLA). Germination was inhibited in pH adjusted substrates with high BC substitution (50-70% total substrate volume) likely due to higher dosages of PLA needed to neutralize pH. At harvest (flowering stage, 9 weeks) the initial pH gradient (4.4-10.4) in substrates that were not pH adjusted had converged to pH 5.6-7.5, and BC substitution for peat did not negatively impact marigold biomass or flowering. At low substitution rates (10-30% total substrate volume), marigold biomass and leaf SPAD values were greater than the control peat-perlite mixture (0% BC). This study demonstrates that softwood BC can be considered as a full replacement for peat in soil-free substrates, and even at high rates (70% total substrate volume) does not require pH adjustment for marigold production. Crop-and BC-specific considerations and economic potential should be investigated for wider application.

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Section: Substitution Treatments and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ph Adjustment Of Soil-free Substrates With Bcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Margenot

Griffin

Alves

et al. 2018

Industrial Crops and Products

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Changes in soil porosity and size aggregate distribution following biochar applications promote soil structure modifications, leading also to ameliorations of many other chemical-physical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), CEC, pH, and water holding capacity (De Pasquale et al, 2012;Ouyang et al, 2013) that have a fundamental role in the standardization of substrate for greenhouse crops. Up to now several researches on biochar agricultural use have been focused on its application on soil, few studies were conducted in containers (Altland & Locke, 2013;Vaughn et al, 2013;Street et al, 2014;Zaccheo et al, 2014), even less regarded its utilization as growing substrate for ornamental potted plants (Tian et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2014).…”

Section: Greenhouse Facilities and Plant Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of biochar as peat substitute for growing substrates of Euphorbia × lomi potted plants

Dispenza

Pasquale

Fascella³

et al. 2017

Span. j. agric. res.

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Biochar from conifers wood was used in soilless culture as growing substrate alternative to peat for ornamental crops. Potted plants of Euphorbia × lomi Rauh cv. ‘Ilaria’ were grown with different mixtures (v:v) of brown peat and biochar in order to evaluate main physical and chemical characteristics of this biomaterial as well as its effect on plant growth, ornamental characteristics and nutrients uptake. Biochar addition to peat increased pH, EC and K content of the growing substrates, as well as air content and bulk density. Biochar content of substrates significantly affected plant growth and biomass partitioning: higher number of shoots and leaves, leaf area and leaf dry weight were recorded in plants grown in 40% peat-60% biochar, with respect to plants grown in 100% peat and secondarily in 100% biochar. Leaf chlorophyll content was higher in plants grown in 60% and 80% biochar, while biomass water use efficiency was higher with 60% biochar. Plant uptake of K and Ca increased as biochar content of the substrates increased. Hence, a growing substrate containing 40% brown peat and 60% conifers wood biochar was identified as the more suitable mixture allowing to have a high-quality production of Euphorbia × lomi potted plants.

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Effect of biochar application on quality of flooded sandy soils and corn growth under greenhouse conditions

Jahromi

Lee

Fulcher

et al. 2020

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Seasonal flooding following heavy rain deposits large amounts of sediments on productive lands in the lower parts of fields in western Tennessee. The deposited sediments have high proportion of sand particles that negatively affect soil physiochemical properties, which make the soil uneconomic for farming. Soil amendments such as biochar, a by‐product of renewable energy production from organic waste materials, have the potential to remediate sandy soil left after flood events and improve crop yields by increasing water holding capacity and soil nutrient content. The objective of this project was to evaluate the effect of biochar produced from two types of hardwood feedstocks on water retention and corn (Zea mays L.) growth in sandy soil. A greenhouse experiment quantifying the growth of corn was conducted in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Sandy soil was amended with three biochar rates (0, 10, and 20% by volume) under two irrigation levels. The irrigation levels were control and a dry treatment based on the past 10 yr of rainfall data. Biochar application greatly improved water retention in the flooded sandy soil. Biochar increased soil K and P concentration. However, at the end of the study, corn growth was not different in biochar amended and non‐amended sandy soil. This research demonstrated that biochar as a soil amendment has the potential to improve quality attributes of poor soil, such as the soil water and nutrient concentration in a previously flooded sandy soils.

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Comparison of biochars derived from wood pellets and pelletized wheat straw as replacements for peat in potting substrates

Cited by 176 publications

References 51 publications

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Substitution of peat moss with softwood biochar for soil-free marigold growth

Use of biochar as peat substitute for growing substrates of Euphorbia × lomi potted plants

Effect of biochar application on quality of flooded sandy soils and corn growth under greenhouse conditions

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