Effects of Biochar on Biointensive Horticultural Crops and Its Economic Viability in the Mediterranean Climate

Francisco Miguel González-Pernas, Cristina Grajera-Antolín, Olivia García-Cámara, María González-Lucas, María Teresa Martín, Sergio González-Egido and Juan Luis Aguirre
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Francisco Miguel González-Pernas: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
Cristina Grajera-Antolín: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
Olivia García-Cámara: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
María González-Lucas: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
María Teresa Martín: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
Sergio González-Egido: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
Juan Luis Aguirre: Cátedra de Medio Ambiente, Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: The effects of biochar on different horticultural crops (lettuce, tomato, sweet pepper, and radish) were evaluated in the Mediterranean climate. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis of Pinus pinaster wood chips at 550 °C and used at 1 (B1) and 2 (B2) kg/m 2 application rates on six 3.5 m 2 plots in each treatment, with two control plots (B0). No fertilizer was used. Treatment B1 led to a significant increase ( p < 0.01) of 35.4%, 98.1%, 28.4%, and 35.2% in the mean fresh weight of radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, and sweet peppers, respectively. Treatment B2 resulted in an improvement of 70.7% in radishes, 126.1% in lettuce, 38.4% in tomatoes, and 95.0% in sweet peppers ( p < 0.01). Significant differences between treatments B1 and B2 were observed in the radish, tomato, and sweet pepper crops but not in lettuce. The profitability of biochar application to these crops was studied by considering a biochar price of 800 EUR/t and applying a CO 2 fixation subsidy, assuming the updated February 2022 price (90 EUR/t). In lettuce, tomato, and sweet pepper crops, the investment payback period was approximately one year. Application of biochar generated economic benefit either from the first harvest or in the second year. In radish, this period was longer than two years; however, an increase in the annual frequency of cultivation should be studied to optimize the benefit. The dose that provided the greatest benefit was B1 (for all crops, except for sweet pepper). Biochar considerably improved fruit and vegetable yield under the Mediterranean climate; however, further studies are needed to assess the effects of biochar on soil properties and yield to estimate long-term environmental and economic benefits.

Keywords: biochar; agriculture; soil; pyrolysis; Mediterranean region; tomato; pepper; lettuce; radish; bioeconomy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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