Physicochemical Changes in Loam Soils Amended with Bamboo Biochar and Their Influence in Tomato Production Yield

Abstract

Soil degradation and water stress in Costa Rica challenge the production of highly sensitive crops. This work is aimed at evaluating the physical and chemical changes in sandy loam (SL) and a silt loam (SiL) soil when amended with bamboo biochar while estimating the enhancement of tomato productivity. Biochar, obtained from Guadua Angustifolia bamboo feedstock, was mixed into sieved bulk soil substrate from the topsoil, from Andosol and Umbrisol groups, at application rates of 1, 2.5, and 5% (dry mass). Physicochemical and morphological properties of biochar such as pH, hydrophobicity, scanning electron microscopy images, helium picnometry, specific surface area by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, CHNS, and ash content were determined. Soil hydrophobicity, acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity and water retention, available water content, and air capacity were analyzed for the amended soils. Tomato yield was quantified after a harvest period of two months. The admixture of biochar did not significantly increase soil cation exchange capacity but increased water retention in the range of available water content. Class A (>200 g) tomato yield increased 350% in the SL and 151% in the SiL. Class B (100–200 g) tomato yields increased 27% in the SL but decreased about 30% in the SiL. Tomato yield response seems attributable to variation of water retention capacity, available water content, and air capacity. These results support the use of adapted water management strategies for tomato production based on soil physical changes of biochar.

Combined Effect of Prickly Pear Waste Biochar and Azolla on Soil Fertility, Growth, and Yield of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Plants

“…Liu et al (2021) mentioned that biochar application at rate of 2% increased available N, P, and K by 24, 37, and 19%, respectively, to be uptake by roselle plants. Similar results were obtained by Guo et al (2020), Villagra-Mendoza et al (2021, Zheng et al (2021).…”

Effects of Biochar on Biointensive Horticultural Crops and Its Economic Viability in the Mediterranean Climate

“…Nevertheless, Guo et al reported yield improvements of up to 60% when using application rates of 30, 50, and 70 t/ha, fundamentally due to biochar interference in the fixation of supplemented nutrients and nutrient exchange in the soil-plant system [55]. In these temperate zones, other authors have reported results ranging from no improvement to slight improvements of 10% in tomato yield [56,57].…”

Bamboo-Based Biochar: A Still Too Little-Studied Black Gold and Its Current Applications

“…By the application of BBCs to soil obtained by the combustion of bamboo feedstocks, the quality and performance of different plants were enhanced. Particularly, the growth of mustard plants [ 194 ] and the yield of pakchoy plants [ 145 ], as well as the growth of tomato plants and the quality of their fruits, were improved [ 146 , 147 ]. Villagra-Mendoza et al reported that the physicochemical changes that occurred in loam soils amended with BBC obtained by the pyrolysis of bamboo stems at 400 °C determined a significant improvement in tomato production yield [ 147 ].…”

“…Particularly, the growth of mustard plants [ 194 ] and the yield of pakchoy plants [ 145 ], as well as the growth of tomato plants and the quality of their fruits, were improved [ 146 , 147 ]. Villagra-Mendoza et al reported that the physicochemical changes that occurred in loam soils amended with BBC obtained by the pyrolysis of bamboo stems at 400 °C determined a significant improvement in tomato production yield [ 147 ]. Wang et al demonstrated that the application of 5% bamboo biochar to soil reduced Cu uptake in the roots of Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys pubescens ) and ameliorated soil physical properties and heavy metal solubility in soil [ 148 ].…”