Abstract
As a soil amendment, biochar can significantly improve soil quality and crop growth. Few studies, however, have explored biochar effects on crop quality. This study investigated the amendment effects of bamboo biochar pyrolyzed at different temperatures on plant growth and fruit quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Tomato ‘Micro-Tom’ plants were grown in a sand medium amended with 0, 1, and 3% of biochars produced at 300 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C, respectively. Plant growth was monitored, and fruit harvested at the red stage was analyzed for color, texture, soluble solids content, sugars, ascorbic acid, and acidity. Results showed that biochars produced at 300 °C and amended at 3% or pyrolyzed at 450 °C and amended at 1% increased plant growth index. Contents of glucose, fructose, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and sugar-to-acid ratios of fruits produced from the two treatments were significantly higher than the other treatments. The improved plant growth and fruit quality were related to the higher concentrations of NO3, P, Ca, and Mg in the growing media. Our results suggest that optimizing biochar use can be achieved by targeting biochar production conditions and application rate, which resulted in desirable amendment and fruit quality effects.
Highlights
In today’s agricultural practices, biochar is receiving renewed interest as a source of value-added bioproducts and bioenergy
Different letters show significant difference (p < 0.05) between treatments. This is the first study to show that biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures when amended to a soil at different rates affect tomato growth and fruit quality
Lower temperature biochars, those produced at 300 ◦ C, had the most significant effect on plant growth and a positive effect on fruit quality
Summary
In today’s agricultural practices, biochar is receiving renewed interest as a source of value-added bioproducts and bioenergy. Biochar supports sustainability because it is made from forest and agricultural residues; its application improves physical and chemical properties of soil, increasing agricultural productivity [1]. Increasing biochar production temperature increases surface area [5]. Potential applications of biochar are dependent on their physical properties, such as surface area, functional groups, and elemental composition [6]. Such physical properties are influenced by biochar production factors, such as the type of feedstock, pyrolysis method, and pyrolysis temperature [7,8].
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