Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis
Peat is used as rooting medium in greenhouse horticulture. Biochar is a sustainable alternative for the use of peat, which will reduce peat derived carbon dioxide emissions. Biochar in potting soil mixtures allegedly increases water storage, nutrient supply, microbial life and disease suppression bu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/7/1/6 |
| _version_ | 1818946654024237056 |
|---|---|
| author | Chris Blok Caroline van der Salm Jantineke Hofland-Zijlstra Marta Streminska Barbara Eveleens Inge Regelink Lydia Fryda Rianne Visser |
| author_facet | Chris Blok Caroline van der Salm Jantineke Hofland-Zijlstra Marta Streminska Barbara Eveleens Inge Regelink Lydia Fryda Rianne Visser |
| author_sort | Chris Blok |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Peat is used as rooting medium in greenhouse horticulture. Biochar is a sustainable alternative for the use of peat, which will reduce peat derived carbon dioxide emissions. Biochar in potting soil mixtures allegedly increases water storage, nutrient supply, microbial life and disease suppression but this depends on feedstock and the production process. The aim of this paper is to find combinations of feedstock and production circumstances which will deliver biochars with value for the horticultural end user. Low-temperature (600 °C–750 °C) gasification was used for combined energy and biochar generation. Biochars produced were screened in laboratory tests and selected biochars were used in plant experiments. Tests included dry bulk density, total pore space, specific surface area, phytotoxicity, pH, EC, moisture characteristics and microbial stability. We conclude that biochars from nutrient-rich feedstocks are too saline and too alkaline to be applied in horticultural rooting media. Biochars from less nutrient-rich feedstocks can be conveniently neutralized by mixing with acid peat. The influence of production parameters on specific surface area, pH, total pore space and toxicity is discussed. Biochar mildly improved the survival of beneficial micro-organisms in a mix with peat. Overall, wood biochar can replace at least 20% v/v of peat in potting soils without affecting plant growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:18:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6e0ab596c9e403da5582988aaecb65b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T08:18:26Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6e0ab596c9e403da5582988aaecb65b2022-12-21T19:47:04ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952017-01-0171610.3390/agronomy7010006agronomy7010006Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow PyrolysisChris Blok0Caroline van der Salm1Jantineke Hofland-Zijlstra2Marta Streminska3Barbara Eveleens4Inge Regelink5Lydia Fryda6Rianne Visser7Wageningen Plant Research, Glasshouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk, The NetherlandsWageningen Plant Research, Glasshouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk, The NetherlandsWageningen Plant Research, Glasshouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk, The NetherlandsWageningen Plant Research, Glasshouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk, The NetherlandsWageningen Plant Research, Glasshouse Horticulture, Violierenweg 1, 2665 MV Bleiswijk, The NetherlandsWageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The NetherlandsEnergy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The NetherlandsEnergy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The NetherlandsPeat is used as rooting medium in greenhouse horticulture. Biochar is a sustainable alternative for the use of peat, which will reduce peat derived carbon dioxide emissions. Biochar in potting soil mixtures allegedly increases water storage, nutrient supply, microbial life and disease suppression but this depends on feedstock and the production process. The aim of this paper is to find combinations of feedstock and production circumstances which will deliver biochars with value for the horticultural end user. Low-temperature (600 °C–750 °C) gasification was used for combined energy and biochar generation. Biochars produced were screened in laboratory tests and selected biochars were used in plant experiments. Tests included dry bulk density, total pore space, specific surface area, phytotoxicity, pH, EC, moisture characteristics and microbial stability. We conclude that biochars from nutrient-rich feedstocks are too saline and too alkaline to be applied in horticultural rooting media. Biochars from less nutrient-rich feedstocks can be conveniently neutralized by mixing with acid peat. The influence of production parameters on specific surface area, pH, total pore space and toxicity is discussed. Biochar mildly improved the survival of beneficial micro-organisms in a mix with peat. Overall, wood biochar can replace at least 20% v/v of peat in potting soils without affecting plant growth.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/7/1/6alkalinitybiochargasificationpHphytotoxicitypyrolysissalinitystabilitydegradability |
| spellingShingle | Chris Blok Caroline van der Salm Jantineke Hofland-Zijlstra Marta Streminska Barbara Eveleens Inge Regelink Lydia Fryda Rianne Visser Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis Agronomy alkalinity biochar gasification pH phytotoxicity pyrolysis salinity stability degradability |
| title | Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis |
| title_full | Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis |
| title_fullStr | Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis |
| title_short | Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis |
| title_sort | biochar for horticultural rooting media improvement evaluation of biochar from gasification and slow pyrolysis |
| topic | alkalinity biochar gasification pH phytotoxicity pyrolysis salinity stability degradability |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/7/1/6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chrisblok biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT carolinevandersalm biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT jantinekehoflandzijlstra biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT martastreminska biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT barbaraeveleens biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT ingeregelink biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT lydiafryda biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis AT riannevisser biocharforhorticulturalrootingmediaimprovementevaluationofbiocharfromgasificationandslowpyrolysis |