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

Huang, Lan; Gu, Mengmeng

doi:10.3390/horticulturae5010014

Cited by 76 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…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%

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

2019

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One promising alternative to peat is biochar (BC) [5,13,14]. It is a charcoal-like solid with a high content in recalcitrant carbon created during pyrolysis of organic feedstock, such as crop residues, manure, and wood in an oxygen-limited environment at a temperature ranging from 300 to 900 • C [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2019

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“…Even though the effects of biochar on substrate properties also varies depending on original feedstock and process conditions [22,30], some biochar types have been proven to improve the physical properties of the growing media [39]. For instance, pinewood biochar from fast pyrolysis of pinewood at 450 • C can make the substrate better for poinsettia and Easter lily to grow [6,27].…”

Section: Media Phytotoxicity and Substrate Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biochar has been considered as a sustainable material because it can be derived from various sources, such as pinewood [3,10,11], 2 of 14 green waste [12], wood, sugarcane bagasse [13], straw [14][15][16][17][18], bark [19], rice hull [20], and wheat straw [16,21]. For the same reason, biochar properties can vary widely [22]. Most greenhouse trials have used biochar derived from lignin-based materials, which has appropriate properties for plant growth [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mixed Hardwood and Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar as Potting Mix Components for Container Tomato and Basil Seedling Production

Li²,

Huang

et al. 2019

Applied Sciences

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To investigate the potential of biochar as a propagation mix component, three experiments were conducted. A phytotoxicity test was conducted with water extract of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB), SBB mixes (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% SBB with 30% perlite (P) and the rest being peat moss (PM); by vol.), mixed hardwood biochar (HB) mixes (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% HB with PM; by vol.), PM, P, 70%PM:30%P, and a commercial propagation mix (exp. 1). None of the mixes caused phytotoxicity. The same biochar mixes (except 100% HB) were used for the seedling growth test (exp. 2). Both tomato and basil seedlings grown in all of the biochar mixes (except 50% HB) had significantly lower fresh weight, dry weight and growth index (GI) compared to a commercial propagation mix. Six seedlings from each biochar mix were transplanted into a commercial growing mix and grown for four weeks (exp. 3). Tomato seedlings from all biochar mixes (except 30% SBB) had similar SPAD (Soil-Plant Analyses Development) and GI to the control. Basil seedlings from all HB mixes, 70% and 100% SBB mixes had similar GI to the control. In conclusion, 70% HB could be amended with PM for tomato and basil seedling production without negative effects on plant biomass.

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“…Biochar (BC) is a carbonaceous material obtained from the pyrolysis of biomass, including plant-based materials, such as wood, grasses, or crop residues [6,7], and animal-based materials, such as crab shell [8] or manure [9][10][11]. Biochar has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions [12], sequester environmental contaminants [13] and be used as a valuable substrate component for plant production [14][15][16][17][18]. Biochar is regarded as a sustainable product, which turns agriculture waste products into valuable materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Biochar and Compost Mixes as Substitutes to a Commercial Propagation Mix

Huang

Gu³

2019

Applied Sciences

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The effects of biochar (BC) on seed propagation depend on the type of BC, BC incorporation rate, base substrate, and plant seed species. Limited research tested BC-compost mixes for seed propagation. High percentages (70% or 80%, by volume) of BC with vermicompost (VC) or chicken manure compost (CM) were evaluated to substitute a commercial propagation mix (control) in three experiments. Seeds, including basil, coleus, edamame, marigold, okra, petunia, radish, salvia, tomato, vinca, and zinnia in Experiments 1 and 2 had similar or higher emergence percentages (EPs) and emergence indexes (EIs) in both BC:VC mixes, while celosia, cowpea, corn, and pumpkin had lower EPs or EIs in either 8BC:2VC or 7BC:3VC mixes compared to the control. Seedling fresh weights in both BC:VC mixes were similar to the control except for vinca, pumpkin, marigold, and salvia. The BC:VC mixes had no negative effects on plant dry weights at 7 weeks after transplanting. In Experiment 3, BC:CM mixes suppressed the seed germination or seedling growth of coleus, corn, cowpea, marigold, petunia, pumpkin, radish, salvia, vinca, watermelon, and zinnia due to high pH and CM's high electrical conductivity. Therefore, 7BC:3VC and 8BC:2VC can be used as seed propagation mix, while 7BC:3CM and 8BC:2CM are not recommended. Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 4394 2 of 11 production adds extra value to the bioenergy process [19]. Research has shown the potential of BC to be used in seed propagation substrate for agricultural production [20]. It was shown that coconut shell BC (5%, 10%, 20%, or 40%, by volume) could be mixed with an adapted cornell seed germination mix and did not affect final germination percentages [21]. Additionally, the rate of BC incorporation, base substrate, and the plant species all have effects on the final seed germination and seedling growth. Prasad et al. [22] showed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seed germination and plant growth were higher in peat mixes with 10% woodchips BC than those in mixes with 50% BC. Similarly, Margenot et al.[23] evaluated the softwood BC substitution for peat in a 70:30 (v/v) peat:perlite mixture on marigold (Tagetes erecta) seed germination and seedling growth. They concluded that mixes with high BC substitution rate (50%, 60%, or 70%, by vol) had lower germinations than the mixes with low BC rates (0, 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40%, by vol) with all substrate pHs adjusted to 5.8. Compared to the 70:30 (v/v) peat:perlite mixture, mixes with 10% or 70% BC led to lower plant height while mixes with 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60% BC had no effect. Fan et al. [24] also pointed out that the lower germination rate and plant height of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk) were found in substrates with more wheat straw BC, and that the seed germination rate and plant height in substrates with 16% (by volume) BC with 0.8 g L −1 super absorbent polymer were higher than the substrates without super absorbent polymer, indicating that both the BC incorporation rate and base substrate affect seed germination and seedling establishment....

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

Cited by 76 publications

References 89 publications

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

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

Mixed Hardwood and Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar as Potting Mix Components for Container Tomato and Basil Seedling Production

Evaluation of Biochar and Compost Mixes as Substitutes to a Commercial Propagation Mix

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