Plant fibers for renewable growing media: Potential of defibration, acidification or inoculation with biocontrol fungi to reduce the N drawdown and plant pathogens

Vandecasteele, Bart; Muylle, Hilde; Windt, Imke De; Acker, Joris Van; Ameloot, Nele; Moreaux, Kasper; Coucke, P.; Debode, Jane

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.167

Cited by 41 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…But, the observed effects did not occur in each plant growing medium (Figures 1 and 3), suggesting the potential influence of plant growing medium composition on the effectiveness of BCI treatment. Vandecasteele et al [78] also reported that successful microbial inoculation depended on the type of plant growing medium. Biocontrol fungi showed better colonization in defibrated pure miscanthus, reed straw and flax shives compared to peat since peat did not provide the necessary compounds for fungal growth.…”

Section: Microbe-plant Growing Medium Interactions and The Bacterial mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbe-Plant Growing Media Interactions Modulate the Effectiveness of Bacterial Amendments on Lettuce Performance Inside a Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

Gerrewey

Vandecruys²,

Ameloot³

et al. 2020

Agronomy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is a need for plant growing media that can support a beneficial microbial root environment to ensure that optimal plant growth properties can be achieved. We investigated the effect of five rhizosphere bacterial community inocula (BCI S1–5) that were collected at three open field organic farms and two soilless farms on the performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The lettuce plants were grown in ten different plant growing media (M1–10) composed of 60% v/v peat (black peat or white peat), 20% v/v other organics (coir pith or wood fiber), 10% v/v composted materials (composted bark or green waste compost) and 10% v/v inorganic materials (perlite or sand), and one commercial plant growing medium inside a plant factory with artificial lighting. Fractional factorial design of experiments analysis revealed that the bacterial community inoculum, plant growing medium composition, and their interaction determine plant performance. The impact of bacterial amendments on the plant phenotype relied on the bacterial source. For example, S3 treatment significantly increased lettuce shoot fresh weight (+57%), lettuce head area (+29%), root fresh weight (+53%), and NO3-content (+53%), while S1 treatment significantly increased lettuce shoot dry weight (+15%), total phenolic content (+65%), and decreased NO3-content (−67%). However, the effectiveness of S3 and S1 treatment depended on plant growing medium composition. Principal component analysis revealed that shoot fresh weight, lettuce head area, root fresh weight, and shoot dry weight were the dominant parameters contributing to the variation in the interactions. The dominant treatments were S3-M8, S1-M7, S2-M4, the commercial plant growing medium, S1-M2, and S3-M10. Proper selection of plant growing medium composition is critical for the efficacy of bacterial amendments and achieving optimal plant performance inside a plant factory with artificial lighting.

show abstract

Section: Microbe-plant Growing Medium Interactions and The Bacterial mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbe-Plant Growing Media Interactions Modulate the Effectiveness of Bacterial Amendments on Lettuce Performance Inside a Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

Gerrewey

Vandecruys²,

Ameloot³

et al. 2020

Agronomy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, inoculating both the PM with the same microbial community raised the TPC of lettuce grown in composted bark PM while the TPC levels observed in the green waste compost growing media were unchanged [ 83 ]. In a similar study, Vandecasteele et al [ 84 ] reported that biocontrol fungi showed better colonisation in defibrated miscanthus, reed straw, and flax shives in comparison to peat. Since peat does not provide necessary nutrients for microbial growth and proliferation.…”

Section: Characteristics Of Potting Mediamentioning

confidence: 96%

“…During defibration at high temperatures, microsclerotia of the pathogen are killed. Defibrated falx shives are easily colonized by fungal biocontrol agents in comparison to peat Vandecasteele et al [ 84 ] …”

Section: Untransformed Agro-industrial Residues: Moving Forwardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agro-industrial-residues as potting media: physicochemical and biological characters and their influence on plant growth

Agarwal

Saha

Hariprasad

2021

Biomass Conv. Bioref.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Graphical abstract Nursery cultivation is recognized globally as an intensive production system to support quality seedlings as well as to manage resources efficiently. Apart from other factors, potting media (PM) play a crucial role in determining the success of nursery cultivation. Worldwide, peat is the most commonly used substrate in PM because of its favorable physicochemical properties. However, due to ascending environmental and ecological concerns regarding the use of peat, a variety of new substrates have been used/tested by researchers/practitioners/growers as PM. Bark, coir pith, wood fiber, compost derived from various agro-residues, and vermicompost either alone or in combination are some of the commonly explored substrates and found to have the potential to replace peat to a greater extent. In lieu of availability, abundance, low cost, and no/low processing requirement, the use of agro-industrial residue (AIR) in the PM is the current trend. However, challenges associated with their adoption cannot be ignored. The present review is focused on providing collective information, scientific knowledge and detailed analysis of various AIR used in PM. The critical evidence-based review would help in developing a consistent approach for the identification, selection and characterization of a new renewable substrate. In addition, it would help in developing a rationale understanding of the practical and economic realities involved in the adoption of the same in PM. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13399-021-01998-6.

show abstract

“…The biodegradation potential was calculated as the holocellulose/lignin ratio (HC/L), based on the biochemical analysis with an Ankom 220 Fiber Analyser extraction unit according to Van Soest et al (1991). The materials were tested for immobilization of mineral N (Vandecasteele et al, 2018b) by adding 350 mg N/L material followed by incubation at 37 C for seven days. CO 2 emission was assessed by measuring CO 2 flux 13 times during 30 days with a Licor LI-8100 Automated CO 2 Flux System equipped with a soil flux chamber (LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE, USA).…”

Section: Stability Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the cultures tested here, we found that additional nutrient supply in case of reuse of spent media could even be reduced to supplying only mineral N. Mineral N can be supplied as mineral fertilizers (e.g., NH 4 NO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ) or through organic fertilizers with a fast N release, e.g., blood meal or chitin. These amendments may affect the pH of the growing medium (Vandecasteele et al, 2018b) so both N release and effect on pH are relevant for selecting the N source. By reducing the amounts of nutrients accumulated in the used growing media through reduced fertigation or fertilizer amendment, the potential for recycling or reuse of the growing media is further increased.…”

Section: Reuse As Gm and Source Of Nutrientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grow - Store - Steam - Re-peat: Reuse of spent growing media for circular cultivation of Chrysanthemum

Vandecasteele¹,

Blindeman²,

Amery³

et al. 2020

Journal of Cleaner Production

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Substantially extending the life span of peat-and perlite-based growing media is a measure to increase the sustainability of soilless cultivation. The extraction of peat from pristine peatlands threatens these sensitive ecosystems and carbon sinks, meanwhile resulting in increased emissions of greenhouse gasses. Each batch of peat that is reused, results in a clear reduction in CO 2 emissions and a lower impact on the climate. After using growing media for one cultivation, we aim at reusing the spent material as growing medium for another crop. Spent peat and perlite based growing media from strawberry and cucumber cultivation were upcycled after steam treatment. We tested the effectiveness of steaming to reduce phytosanitary risks. The hygienisation efficiency of the steam treatment was confirmed: plant pathogenic fungi, larvae of vine weevils and weed seeds added or already present before the process were killed by the steam treatment. As the upcycled spent growing medium already contained high nutrient levels, the fertilizer application in the reused growing medium should be reduced, especially for P and K. Five indicators for assessing stability of the materials were used: CO 2 flux measurements, oxygen uptake rate (OUR), biodegradation potential, mineral N content and risk for N immobilization. The spent growing media had a low decomposition rate and the release of nutrients in a leaching experiment was lower than for a fertilized peat-based growing medium, being a reference blend for open field cultivated Chrysanthemum. N mineralisation and P uptake were tested in an incubation and pot trial, respectively, and the upcycled spent growing medium was found to be an important source of plant-available K and P. Steam treatment did not severely affect the microbial biomass and diversity of the spent growing media. Blending the steam-treated spent media with other materials or inoculating by a commercially available biocontrol fungus also had a limited effect, indicating that newly introduced microorganisms do not easily establish in steamed-treated spent growing media (SSGM). Acidification of the SSGM was achieved by a low dose of elemental S. The steam-treated growing medium was tested for growing Chrysanthemum cuttings and plantlets. Spent growing media were not able to supply sufficient mineral N, but the stored amounts of P and K in the media were sufficiently plant available for optimal crop growth.

show abstract

Plant fibers for renewable growing media: Potential of defibration, acidification or inoculation with biocontrol fungi to reduce the N drawdown and plant pathogens

Cited by 41 publications

References 49 publications

Microbe-Plant Growing Media Interactions Modulate the Effectiveness of Bacterial Amendments on Lettuce Performance Inside a Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

Microbe-Plant Growing Media Interactions Modulate the Effectiveness of Bacterial Amendments on Lettuce Performance Inside a Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

Agro-industrial-residues as potting media: physicochemical and biological characters and their influence on plant growth

Grow - Store - Steam - Re-peat: Reuse of spent growing media for circular cultivation of Chrysanthemum

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About