Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate
Biochar soil amendment can improve growing medium water and nutrient status and crop productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> var. <i>cerasiforme</i> plants to investigate the effects of biochar amendment (20% application rate) on a soill...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1135 |
| _version_ | 1797432549308366848 |
|---|---|
| author | Melissa Simiele Oriana Argentino Silvia Baronti Gabriella Stefania Scippa Donato Chiatante Mattia Terzaghi Antonio Montagnoli |
| author_facet | Melissa Simiele Oriana Argentino Silvia Baronti Gabriella Stefania Scippa Donato Chiatante Mattia Terzaghi Antonio Montagnoli |
| author_sort | Melissa Simiele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biochar soil amendment can improve growing medium water and nutrient status and crop productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> var. <i>cerasiforme</i> plants to investigate the effects of biochar amendment (20% application rate) on a soilless substrate, as well as on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. During the experiment, substrate characteristics, plant morphological traits, and root and leaf C/N content were analyzed at three sampling points defined as early stage (36 days after germination), vegetative stage (84 days a. g.), and fruit stage (140 days a. g.). Fruit morphological traits, titratable acidity, lycopene, and solid soluble content were measured at the end of the experiment. Biochar ameliorated substrate characteristics (N<sub>av</sub> increase of 17% and C<sub>tot</sub> increase of 13% at the beginning of the study), resulting in a promotion effect on plant root, shoot, and leaf morphology mainly at the vegetative and fruit stages. Indeed, at these two sampling points, the biochar-treated plants had a greater number of leaves (38 and 68 at the vegetative and fruit stages, respectively) than the untreated plants (32 and 49, respectively). The biochar also increased leaf area with a rise of 26% and 36% compared with the values measured in the untreated plants. Moreover, the amendment increased twofold root length, root surface area, and root, stem, and leaf biomasses in comparison with untreated plants. Regarding plant productivity, although fruit morphology remained unchanged, biochar increased flower and fruit numbers (six times and two times, respectively), acidity (75%), lycopene (28%), and solid soluble content (16%). By unveiling promoting changes in morphological traits, fruit number, and antioxidant content occurring in cherry tomato plants growing in a biochar-treated soilless substrate, it could be possible to highlight the importance of biochar for future applications in the field for enhancing plant production and fruit quality in a sustainable agriculture framework. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:03:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12a4d43424f445b58aa895980523ed5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:03:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-12a4d43424f445b58aa895980523ed5a2023-12-01T23:16:35ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-07-01128113510.3390/agriculture12081135Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless SubstrateMelissa Simiele0Oriana Argentino1Silvia Baronti2Gabriella Stefania Scippa3Donato Chiatante4Mattia Terzaghi5Antonio Montagnoli6Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyIBE Institute of Bioeconomy-National Research Council, 50145 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyBiochar soil amendment can improve growing medium water and nutrient status and crop productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> var. <i>cerasiforme</i> plants to investigate the effects of biochar amendment (20% application rate) on a soilless substrate, as well as on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. During the experiment, substrate characteristics, plant morphological traits, and root and leaf C/N content were analyzed at three sampling points defined as early stage (36 days after germination), vegetative stage (84 days a. g.), and fruit stage (140 days a. g.). Fruit morphological traits, titratable acidity, lycopene, and solid soluble content were measured at the end of the experiment. Biochar ameliorated substrate characteristics (N<sub>av</sub> increase of 17% and C<sub>tot</sub> increase of 13% at the beginning of the study), resulting in a promotion effect on plant root, shoot, and leaf morphology mainly at the vegetative and fruit stages. Indeed, at these two sampling points, the biochar-treated plants had a greater number of leaves (38 and 68 at the vegetative and fruit stages, respectively) than the untreated plants (32 and 49, respectively). The biochar also increased leaf area with a rise of 26% and 36% compared with the values measured in the untreated plants. Moreover, the amendment increased twofold root length, root surface area, and root, stem, and leaf biomasses in comparison with untreated plants. Regarding plant productivity, although fruit morphology remained unchanged, biochar increased flower and fruit numbers (six times and two times, respectively), acidity (75%), lycopene (28%), and solid soluble content (16%). By unveiling promoting changes in morphological traits, fruit number, and antioxidant content occurring in cherry tomato plants growing in a biochar-treated soilless substrate, it could be possible to highlight the importance of biochar for future applications in the field for enhancing plant production and fruit quality in a sustainable agriculture framework.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1135amendmentfruit qualityphysicochemical characteristicsplant morphologysustainable agriculture |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Simiele Oriana Argentino Silvia Baronti Gabriella Stefania Scippa Donato Chiatante Mattia Terzaghi Antonio Montagnoli Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate Agriculture amendment fruit quality physicochemical characteristics plant morphology sustainable agriculture |
| title | Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate |
| title_full | Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate |
| title_fullStr | Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate |
| title_short | Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in a Soilless Substrate |
| title_sort | biochar enhances plant growth fruit yield and antioxidant content of cherry tomato i solanum lycopersicum i l in a soilless substrate |
| topic | amendment fruit quality physicochemical characteristics plant morphology sustainable agriculture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1135 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT melissasimiele biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT orianaargentino biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT silviabaronti biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT gabriellastefaniascippa biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT donatochiatante biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT mattiaterzaghi biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate AT antoniomontagnoli biocharenhancesplantgrowthfruityieldandantioxidantcontentofcherrytomatoisolanumlycopersicumilinasoillesssubstrate |