Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System
Imminent necessity for eco-friendly and low-cost substitutes to peat is a defiance in the soilless plant cultivation systems. Wood biochar could entirely or partly substitute peat as a plant growing constituent to produce vegetables. Nevertheless, knowledge concerning potential plant performance of...
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/4/1258 |
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| author | Leo Sabatino Giovanni Iapichino Rosario Paolo Mauro Beppe Benedetto Consentino Claudio De Pasquale |
| author_facet | Leo Sabatino Giovanni Iapichino Rosario Paolo Mauro Beppe Benedetto Consentino Claudio De Pasquale |
| author_sort | Leo Sabatino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Imminent necessity for eco-friendly and low-cost substitutes to peat is a defiance in the soilless plant cultivation systems. Wood biochar could entirely or partly substitute peat as a plant growing constituent to produce vegetables. Nevertheless, knowledge concerning potential plant performance of leafy green vegetables grown on wood biochar is restricted. The present study assessed the main physicochemical traits of various growing media constituted by decreasing the content of peat and by increasing the percentages of poplar wood biochar. Yield, nutritional and functional properties of curly endive plants cultivated in a protected environment were also tested. Biochar was pyrolyzed from poplar (<i>Populus nigra</i> L.) at 450 or 700 °C for 48 h. Increasing biochar concentration and pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher pH, EC and K content of the growing mediums. Biochar was also effective in increasing particle density and bulk density. Biochar at 70% and pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C significantly increased head fresh weight by 47.4%, head height by 24.9%, stem diameter by 21.5% and number of leaves by 80.8%, respectively compared with the control (100% peat). Head dry matter content, root dry matter content, SSC, ascorbic acid and total phenolic were also significantly affected by this treatment. Furthermore, the addition of biochar and the use of higher pyrolysis temperature decreased N leaves concentration. This represents a particularly important target for leafy green vegetables healthiness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:50:40Z |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:50:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc5d456ed85546c0b6f3000ddcaf111c2022-12-21T18:45:57ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-02-01104125810.3390/app10041258app10041258Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless SystemLeo Sabatino0Giovanni Iapichino1Rosario Paolo Mauro2Beppe Benedetto Consentino3Claudio De Pasquale4Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali (SAAF), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, ed. 5-90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali (SAAF), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, ed. 5-90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, via Valdisavoia, 5-95123 Catania, ItalyDipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali (SAAF), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, ed. 5-90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali (SAAF), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, ed. 5-90128 Palermo, ItalyImminent necessity for eco-friendly and low-cost substitutes to peat is a defiance in the soilless plant cultivation systems. Wood biochar could entirely or partly substitute peat as a plant growing constituent to produce vegetables. Nevertheless, knowledge concerning potential plant performance of leafy green vegetables grown on wood biochar is restricted. The present study assessed the main physicochemical traits of various growing media constituted by decreasing the content of peat and by increasing the percentages of poplar wood biochar. Yield, nutritional and functional properties of curly endive plants cultivated in a protected environment were also tested. Biochar was pyrolyzed from poplar (<i>Populus nigra</i> L.) at 450 or 700 °C for 48 h. Increasing biochar concentration and pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher pH, EC and K content of the growing mediums. Biochar was also effective in increasing particle density and bulk density. Biochar at 70% and pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C significantly increased head fresh weight by 47.4%, head height by 24.9%, stem diameter by 21.5% and number of leaves by 80.8%, respectively compared with the control (100% peat). Head dry matter content, root dry matter content, SSC, ascorbic acid and total phenolic were also significantly affected by this treatment. Furthermore, the addition of biochar and the use of higher pyrolysis temperature decreased N leaves concentration. This represents a particularly important target for leafy green vegetables healthiness.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/4/1258poplar wood biocharpyrolysis temperature<i>cichorium endivia</i> l. var. <i>crispum</i>soilless cultivationsubstrate mixturesquality traits |
| spellingShingle | Leo Sabatino Giovanni Iapichino Rosario Paolo Mauro Beppe Benedetto Consentino Claudio De Pasquale Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System Applied Sciences poplar wood biochar pyrolysis temperature <i>cichorium endivia</i> l. var. <i>crispum</i> soilless cultivation substrate mixtures quality traits |
| title | Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System |
| title_full | Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System |
| title_fullStr | Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System |
| title_short | Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System |
| title_sort | poplar biochar as an alternative substrate for curly endive cultivated in a soilless system |
| topic | poplar wood biochar pyrolysis temperature <i>cichorium endivia</i> l. var. <i>crispum</i> soilless cultivation substrate mixtures quality traits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/4/1258 |
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