The Influence of Biochar and Solid Digestate on Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) Productivity and Essential Oil Quality

Calamai, Alessandro; Palchetti, Enrico; Masoni, Alberto; Marini, Lorenzo; Chiaramonti, David; Dibari, Camilla; Brilli, Lorenzo

doi:10.3390/agronomy9050260

Cited by 20 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Biochar is produced with dry pyrolysis of the organic matter, in which plant or animal-based organic materials are subjected to high temperatures (450 to 600 • C), under hypoxia or anoxia environment [1,2], whereas lower temperature (300 • C) have been reported for biochar production [3]. The initial organic material for biochar production is mainly wastes coming from intensive sectors, such as forest residues and wood industries, agriculture and food, and greatly contribute to the environmental management and recycling, reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and increasing carbon sequestration [4][5][6][7]. The use of biochar in the agriculture sector as an alternative container growing media adds value to the bioenergy business process [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

et al. 2020

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Biochar can be used as an alternative component in growing media, positively affecting plant growth/yield, but also media properties. In the present study, two commercial grade biochars (BFW-forest wood; and BTS-fresh wood screening), mainly wood-based materials, were used at 7.5% and 15% (v/v), adding nutrient in two levels (100% and 150% standard fertilizer level-Fert). Biochar affected growing media properties, with increases on pH and changes on the nutrient content levels. Biochar BFW enhanced the emergence of seeds in comparison to the control. Increased fertilizer levels benefited plant yield in BFW and BTS at 7.5%, but not at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was reduced at 150% fertilized biochars (BFW + Fert and BTS + Fert) at 7.5%, while total chlorophylls increased at BTS + Fert at 7.5% and 15%. The addition of biochars decreased the antioxidant activity in the plant. Lipid peroxidation in lettuce was increased in most cases with the presence of biochars (BFW, BTS) and 150% fertilization, activating antioxidant (superoxide oxidase and peroxidase) enzymatic metabolisms. The addition of Biochars in the growing media increased the content of nutrients in seedlings, as plants could absorb more available nutrients. Biochar of beech, spruce, and pine species (BFW) at 7.5% was more promising for substituting peat to produce lettuce seedlings. However, examining different species (tomato, leek, impatiens, and geranium) with BFW at 7.5%, the results were not common, and each species needs to be evaluated further.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

et al. 2020

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“…Biochar production is a process of dry pyrolysis of organic matter, whereby plant or animal-based organic materials are treated under high temperatures ranging from 450 to 600 • C, under the absence of oxygen or low oxygen conditions [1,2], while lower temperature (300 • C) for biochar production has been reported [3]. Primary material for biochar production is mainly wastes derived from intensive sectors such as agriculture, food, forest residues and wood industries with significant contribution to environmental management and recycling, decreasing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and sequester carbon [4][5][6][7]. Biochar (i.e., 70%) use in agriculture as an alternative container substrate adds value to the bioenergy process with significant reduction (up to 54%) of the cost for the use of peat-based substrates [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar Type and Ratio as a Peat Additive/Partial Peat Replacement in Growing Media for Cabbage Seedling Production

et al. 2019

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Biochar has been proposed mainly as a soil amendment, positively affecting plant growth/yield, and to a lesser degree for growing media. In this study, four commercial grade biochars (A-forest wood; B-husks and paper fiber; C-bamboo and D-fresh wood screening), mostly wood-based materials, were selected. Initial mixtures of peat (P) with different Biochar type and ratios (0-5-10-15-20%) were selected for cabbage seedling production. Biochar material had high K content and pH ≥ 8.64 which resulted in increased pH of the growing media. Biochar A and C at 20% reduced cabbage seed emergence. Biochar A, B and D maintained or improved plant growth at low ratio (i.e., 5–10%) while all Biochars increased N, K and P content in leaves. Biochars A and D were further examined at 7.5% and 15% with the addition of two doses of minerals (1-fold and 1.5-fold). Biochar A and D, initially stimulated seed emergence when compared to the control. High dose of fertilizer favored plant growth in Biochar A at 7.5% and Biochar D at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was decreased at Biochar A+Fert at 7.5% and Chlorophyll b content was decreased at Biochar A+Fert at 15%. The presence of Biochar A increased the antioxidant activity (as assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-DPPH). Lipid peroxidation was higher in plants grown with fertilized peat and Biochar A at 15%, activating antioxidant enzymatic metabolisms. Potassium, phosphorous and copper accumulation and magnesium deficiency in cabbage leaves were related to the Biochar presence. Wooden biochar of beech, spruce and pine species (Biochar A) at 7.5% and fertilized biochar of fruit trees and hedges (Biochar D) were more promising for peat replacement for cabbage seedling production.

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“…Similarly, Uzoma et al [46] reported favorable use of cow-manure biochar in first-year maize cultivation, probably due to the high ion concentrations and relatively quick release compared to that of other plant-derived biochar [20]. This trend was also confirmed by foliar nutrient content, where a high microelement presence in biochar caused greater leaf accumulation and plant development both in maize and geranium for essential-oil (Pelargonium graveolens) cultivation [12,47]. Concerning application rate, the authors reported positive maize growth using biochar up to 2%-3 % w/w [13,48].…”

Section: Amendment Influence On Maize Growthmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In particular, the authors suggested that biochar produced from nutrient-rich feedstock such as digestate possesses higher nutrient contents than that of biochar obtained from nutrient-poor feedstock (i.e., wood residues), which determines lower soil benefits due to lower mineralization rates [9,10]. From a plant-growth standpoint, open-field or pot biochar application exerts highly variable results, reporting a positive, minimal, or negative influence [9,11,12]. Contrasting results for different biochars were observed in sandy-loam soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Properties and Maize (Zea maize L.) Growth

Calamai

Chiaramonti

Casini³

et al. 2020

Agriculture

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In recent years, the application of biochar as soil amendment has generated a huge interest for the preservation of soil fertility by improving the physicochemical and biological properties of soil, and for the reduction of the negative effects of greenhouse emissions (climate-change adaptation). In this study, we investigated the effect of three soil amendments, namely, biochars derived from wood (BC), solid digestate (SD), and biochar derived from solid digestate (BSD), on soil parameters and their influence in maize-growth performance. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse where organic amendments were applied to the soil control (C) at different application rates: 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% w/w (equivalent at 0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha−1, respectively). The results indicated that all applications of organic amendments significantly enhanced soil parameters such as pH and electrical conductivity, while only BSD and SD showed a significant increase in secondary macro-(i.e., Ca, Mg) and micronutrient-element content (i.e., Na, Fe, Mn and Zn). The best maize performance (i.e., plant height, stem diameter, biomass dry weight, seed number, and weight per ear) was observed while using BSD, while plant growth in BC had reduced results, probably due to the low presence of elemental content and the relatively high volatile-matter (VM) content, which may have altered nitrogen dynamics.

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The Influence of Biochar and Solid Digestate on Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) Productivity and Essential Oil Quality

Cited by 20 publications

References 58 publications

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance

Biochar Type and Ratio as a Peat Additive/Partial Peat Replacement in Growing Media for Cabbage Seedling Production

Short-Term Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Properties and Maize (Zea maize L.) Growth

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