Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes
There is a growing body of research that recognizes the potentials of biochar application in agricultural production systems. However, little is known about the effects of biochar, especially hydrochar, on production of containerized seedlings under nursery conditions. This study aimed to test the e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/9/7/350 |
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| author | Samieh Eskandari Ali Mohammadi Maria Sandberg Rolf Lutz Eckstein Kjell Hedberg Karin Granström |
| author_facet | Samieh Eskandari Ali Mohammadi Maria Sandberg Rolf Lutz Eckstein Kjell Hedberg Karin Granström |
| author_sort | Samieh Eskandari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a growing body of research that recognizes the potentials of biochar application in agricultural production systems. However, little is known about the effects of biochar, especially hydrochar, on production of containerized seedlings under nursery conditions. This study aimed to test the effects of hydrochar application on growth, quality, nutrient and heavy metal contents, and mycorrhizal association of containerized pine seedlings. The hydrochar used in this study was produced through hydrothermal carbonization of paper mill biosludge at 200 °C. Two forms of hydrochar (powder and pellet) were mixed with peat at ratios of 10% and 20% (v/v) under three levels of applied commercial fertilizer (nil, half and full rates). Application of hydrochar had positive or neutral effects on shoot biomass and stem diameter compared with control seedlings (without hydrochar) under tested fertilizer levels. Analysis of the natural logarithmic response ratios (LnRR) of quality index and nutrient and heavy metal uptake revealed that application of 20% (v/v) hydrochar powder or pellet with 50% fertilizer resulted in same quality pine seedlings with similar heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr) and nutrient (P, K, Ca and Mg) contents as untreated seedlings supplied with 100% fertilizer. Colonization percentage by ectomycorrhizae significantly increased when either forms of hydrochar were applied at a rate of 20% under unfertilized condition. The results of this study implied that application of proper rates of hydrochar from biosludge with adjusted levels of liquid fertilizer may reduce fertilizer requirements in pine nurseries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:59:03Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:59:03Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf2fe1594a8f4968bf4c8d14808b8fcb2022-12-21T22:00:56ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952019-07-019735010.3390/agronomy9070350agronomy9070350Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization RegimesSamieh Eskandari0Ali Mohammadi1Maria Sandberg2Rolf Lutz Eckstein3Kjell Hedberg4Karin Granström5Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, SwedenDepartment of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, SwedenDepartment of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, SwedenDepartment of Environmental and Life Sciences, Biology, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, SwedenUlf Ahldén Ingenjörsfirma AB, Älvhagsvägen 11, 19454 Upplands Väsby, SwedenDepartment of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, SwedenThere is a growing body of research that recognizes the potentials of biochar application in agricultural production systems. However, little is known about the effects of biochar, especially hydrochar, on production of containerized seedlings under nursery conditions. This study aimed to test the effects of hydrochar application on growth, quality, nutrient and heavy metal contents, and mycorrhizal association of containerized pine seedlings. The hydrochar used in this study was produced through hydrothermal carbonization of paper mill biosludge at 200 °C. Two forms of hydrochar (powder and pellet) were mixed with peat at ratios of 10% and 20% (v/v) under three levels of applied commercial fertilizer (nil, half and full rates). Application of hydrochar had positive or neutral effects on shoot biomass and stem diameter compared with control seedlings (without hydrochar) under tested fertilizer levels. Analysis of the natural logarithmic response ratios (LnRR) of quality index and nutrient and heavy metal uptake revealed that application of 20% (v/v) hydrochar powder or pellet with 50% fertilizer resulted in same quality pine seedlings with similar heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr) and nutrient (P, K, Ca and Mg) contents as untreated seedlings supplied with 100% fertilizer. Colonization percentage by ectomycorrhizae significantly increased when either forms of hydrochar were applied at a rate of 20% under unfertilized condition. The results of this study implied that application of proper rates of hydrochar from biosludge with adjusted levels of liquid fertilizer may reduce fertilizer requirements in pine nurseries.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/9/7/350containerized production systemsheavy metalspaper mill sludgebiochar-ash pelletquality index |
| spellingShingle | Samieh Eskandari Ali Mohammadi Maria Sandberg Rolf Lutz Eckstein Kjell Hedberg Karin Granström Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes Agronomy containerized production systems heavy metals paper mill sludge biochar-ash pellet quality index |
| title | Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes |
| title_full | Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes |
| title_fullStr | Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes |
| title_short | Hydrochar-Amended Substrates for Production of Containerized Pine Tree Seedlings under Different Fertilization Regimes |
| title_sort | hydrochar amended substrates for production of containerized pine tree seedlings under different fertilization regimes |
| topic | containerized production systems heavy metals paper mill sludge biochar-ash pellet quality index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/9/7/350 |
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