Bamboo Biochar Pyrolyzed at Low Temperature Improves Tomato Plant Growth and Fruit Quality

Ratna G. Suthar, Cun Wang, M. Cecilia N. Nunes, Jianjun Chen, Steven A. Sargent, Ray A. Bucklin and Bin Gao
Additional contact information
Ratna G. Suthar: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Cun Wang: Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, 571737 Haikou, Hainan, China
M. Cecilia N. Nunes: Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
Jianjun Chen: Department of Environmental Horticulture, Mid Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, FL 32703, USA
Steven A. Sargent: Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Ray A. Bucklin: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Bin Gao: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Agriculture, 2018, vol. 8, issue 10, 1-13

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 NO 3 , 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.

Keywords: biochar amendment; pyrogenic carbon; tomato; postharvest quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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