Biochar Influences Phytochemical Concentrations of Viola cornuta Flowers

Abishkar Regmi, Shital Poudyal, Sukhbir Singh, Cade Coldren, Naima Moustaid-Moussa and Catherine Simpson ()
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Abishkar Regmi: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Shital Poudyal: Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Sukhbir Singh: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Cade Coldren: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Naima Moustaid-Moussa: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
Catherine Simpson: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Edible flowers are a rich source of phytochemicals with potential health benefits. Yet, changes in production practices can influence the phytochemical composition of edible flowers. Practices such as the addition of biochar have been used to affect growing media properties as well as to conserve peat resources. However, there is little known about how biochar affects the phytochemical composition of edible flowers. To determine if biochar affects phytochemicals in Viola cornuta , four cultivars were subjected to different rates of biochar, with and without fertilizer. At the rate of 10% biochar and without fertilizer application, flower polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations were decreased by 10–20% in two cultivars. However, at 25% biochar, flower polyphenol concentrations varied widely. When fertilizer was added, no effects of biochar were seen. Phytochemical characterization of unfertilized plants further revealed that while increased rates of biochar reduced concentrations of certain antioxidant compounds, these compounds were increased when fertilizer was added. Overall, fertilization can counteract some of the negative effects of biochar on Viola cultivars, resulting in higher nutritional quality and an increase in bioactive compounds produced, providing an ability to replace the peat moss with biochar.

Keywords: biochar; Viola; peat moss; phytochemicals; phenolic; flavonoid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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