Evaluation of biochar-anaerobic potato digestate mixtures as renewable components of horticultural potting media

Vaughn, Steven F.; Eller, Fred J.; Evangelista, Roque L.; Moser, Bryan R.; Lee, Edward; Wagner, Richard E.; Peterson, Steven C.

doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.10.040

Cited by 37 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…For example, the acid loving ornamental calathea developed greater total biomass when grown in a 1:1 mixture of peat moss and biochar than when grown in either 100% peat or 100% biochar, even though the pH value of the peat-biochar substrate was higher (7.11) than 100% peat (6.2) (Tian et al 2012). Other authors, however, recommended the treatment of biochars with organic acids such as citric acid in order to optimize their pH value for use as growing media (Vaughn et al 2015).…”

Section: Growing Media Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tian et al (2012) found that addition of a green waste biochar at a 50% rate to a peat moss medium with air space of 25.95% had no effect on the total porosity or water holding capacity but significantly decreased air space. Vaughn et al (2015) prepared biochar digestate-based substrates with physical values within the suggested ranges for total porosity but higher values for air space and lower values for water holding capacity. Differences between the present results and previous studies (Tian et al 2012;Vaughn et al 2015) could be due to the smaller particle size for the biochars and sewage sludges used in the present experiment, the characteristics of the peat used and differences in biochar properties.…”

Section: Growing Media Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of sewage sludge biochar on peat-based growing media

Méndez

Cárdenas-Aguiar

Paz‐Ferreiro

et al. 2016

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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School of engineering, rMit university, Melbourne, australia; d Departamento de contaminación ambiental, instituto de ciencias agrarias, cSic, Madrid, Spain ABSTRACT Peat is the main component of growing media in horticulture. Increasing demand, environmental concerns and rising costs for peat make the search for alternative materials imperative. Much research has been performed aiming to find high quality and low cost substrates from different organic wastes such as compost and thus decrease peat consumption. Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has attracted important research as a soil amendment. However, its potential utilization as a peat substitute for growing media formulation remains less well explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge and sewage sludge biochar on peat properties as growing media and on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth. Sewage sludge transformation into biochar proved to be a sustainable waste management approach in order to promote their future use as growing media components. Addition of biochar from sewage sludge increased the N, P and K content of growing media. The biochar addition to peat at a 10%vol rate increased lettuce biomass production by 184-270% and the shoot length by 137-147% despite hydrophysical properties not being improved. Also, biochar addition had a positive effect on growing media microbial biomass which increased more than 966%. In spite of the higher metal concentration in biochar than in sewage sludge, their transfer to plants seems to be reduced when compared with direct sewage sludge use.

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Section: Growing Media Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Growing Media Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of sewage sludge biochar on peat-based growing media

Méndez

Cárdenas-Aguiar

Paz‐Ferreiro

et al. 2016

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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“…Extractable P was determined by the Olsen method (Watanabe and Olsen, 1965). One gram of sample and 20 mL of 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) solution were shaken for 30 min.…”

Section: Growing Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of paper sludge and biochar addition on brown peat and coir based growing media properties

Méndez

Paz‐Ferreiro

Gil

et al. 2015

Scientia Horticulturae

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“…It also explains how feedstock can be quantitatively tested prior to use on salinity and alkalinity, notably by measuring the content of alkali metals Na, K, Ca and Mg. Even so there are reports where high EC feedstocks are used for biochar for horticultural purposes [23] in which case the EC was lowered by either prior washing with water or dilution with low EC biochar.…”

Section: Feedstock Related Effects Of Biocharmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis

Blok¹,

Salm²,

Hofland-Zijlstra³

et al. 2017

Agronomy

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Abstract:Peat is used as rooting medium in greenhouse horticulture. Biochar is a sustainable alternative for the use of peat, which will reduce peat derived carbon dioxide emissions. Biochar in potting soil mixtures allegedly increases water storage, nutrient supply, microbial life and disease suppression but this depends on feedstock and the production process. The aim of this paper is to find combinations of feedstock and production circumstances which will deliver biochars with value for the horticultural end user. Low-temperature (600 • C-750 • C) gasification was used for combined energy and biochar generation. Biochars produced were screened in laboratory tests and selected biochars were used in plant experiments. Tests included dry bulk density, total pore space, specific surface area, phytotoxicity, pH, EC, moisture characteristics and microbial stability. We conclude that biochars from nutrient-rich feedstocks are too saline and too alkaline to be applied in horticultural rooting media. Biochars from less nutrient-rich feedstocks can be conveniently neutralized by mixing with acid peat. The influence of production parameters on specific surface area, pH, total pore space and toxicity is discussed. Biochar mildly improved the survival of beneficial micro-organisms in a mix with peat. Overall, wood biochar can replace at least 20% v/v of peat in potting soils without affecting plant growth.

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Evaluation of biochar-anaerobic potato digestate mixtures as renewable components of horticultural potting media

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

The effect of sewage sludge biochar on peat-based growing media

The effect of sewage sludge biochar on peat-based growing media

The effect of paper sludge and biochar addition on brown peat and coir based growing media properties

Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis

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