Quanti-Qualitative Response of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla) to Soil Amendment with Biochar-Compost Mixtures

Abstract

In recent years, soil addition with organic amendments, such as biochar and compost, has gained attention as an effective agronomic practice to sustain soil fertility, enhance plant growth and crop yield. Well known are the positive effects of compost on yield of a wide crop varieties, while both positive and negative responses are reported for biochar Therefore, the aim of the study was to verify the effect of biochar mixed with three types of compost on quanti-qualitative response of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. cycla), a leafy green vegetable rich in dietary antioxidants, largely consumed worldwide. A factorial experiment in pots with two factors, including biochar (without biochar and with biochar from vine pruning residues) and compost (without compost, with compost from olive pomace, with vermicompost from cattle manure, and with compost from cattle anaerobic digestate), was setup. Two growth cycles were considered, and a set of quantitative (height of plants, number, area and fresh weight of leaves) and qualitative parameters (carotenoids, chlorophyll, total N, and NO3−content of leaves) were analyzed. Biochar decreased plant growth and NO3− leaf content; on the contrary, it increased total N leaf content, while compost improved all the considered parameters. The interactive effect of biochar and compost was evident only on total N and NO3− leaf content. In our experimental conditions, the compost showed to be the best option to improve Swiss chard growth and increase the content of phytopigments, while the biochar-compost mixtures did not produce the expected effect.

Effect of the Addition of Different Levels of Chard on the Dough Properties and Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Pan Breads

“…e obtained results were in agreement with those of Sacan and Yanardag [25], Colonna et al [26], and Mzoughi et al [4]. e differences in chemical compositions are related to the soil composition and the use of organic amendments [27].…”

Beta vulgaris as a Natural Nitrate Source for Meat Products: A Review

“…Comparatively, most of these studies evaluated the content in chard, especially commercial samples. The content of nitrate observed in these studies varied from very low (<200 mg/kg) and low (200-500 mg/kg) to extremely high (>5000 mg/kg) [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Only the study carried out by Menal-Puey and Asensio [29] reported values in the range of medium (500-1000 mg/kg) and extremely high.…”

Enhancement of Yield, Phytochemical Content and Biological Activity of a Leafy Vegetable (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla) by Using Organic Amendments as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizer

“…Focusing on Swiss chard, several studies have reported the positive, negative or neutral effects of different organic amendment types and doses on the quantitative–qualitative response of this crop [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. In previous experiments, where soil was treated with biochar and different compost types, used alone [ 45 ] or in mixture [ 46 ], we found that vermicompost and compost, respectively deriving from cattle manure and cattle anaerobic digestate, improved the growth of Swiss chard compared to compost deriving from olive pomace and biochar obtained from vine pruning residues. Furthermore, a following experiment [ 47 ], which evaluated the co-application of a biochar from wood chips and a biochar from vine prunings, respectively, with vermicompost from cattle manure (as organic fertilizer) or ammonium nitrate (as chemical fertilizer), showed again the significant effect of vermicompost on both the number and fresh weight of leaves in all five harvests performed during the growth cycle; this effect was similar to that of ammonium nitrate.…”