Influence of Biochar Foliar Application on Malvazija Istarska Grapevine Physiology

Igor Palčić, Dominik Anđelini (), Melissa Prelac, Igor Pasković, Marko Černe, Nikola Major, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Zoran Užila, Marijan Bubola, Dean Ban, Ivan Nemet, Tomislav Karažija, Marko Petek, Ana-Marija Jagatić Korenika and Danko Cvitan
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Igor Palčić: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Dominik Anđelini: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Melissa Prelac: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Igor Pasković: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Marko Černe: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Nikola Major: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Smiljana Goreta Ban: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Zoran Užila: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Marijan Bubola: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Dean Ban: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Ivan Nemet: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Karažija: Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Petek: Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ana-Marija Jagatić Korenika: Department of Viticulture and Enology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Danko Cvitan: Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Biochar has attracted interest in viticulture for its potential to enhance nutrient uptake and improve grapevine physiology under changing climatic conditions, particularly in Mediterranean regions. However, the widespread adoption of biochar has been limited due to economic and logistical constraints associated with its large-scale application. To address these barriers hindering the widespread adoption of biochar, this study investigates the effects of foliar-applied water suspensions of biochar at concentrations of 300 mg/L (B300), 600 mg/L (B600), and 1200 mg/L (B1200), compared to a water-only control (C), as a practical alternative application method. The research focused on Malvazija istarska ( Vitis vinifera L.), an indigenous Croatian grapevine variety, conducted in an experimental vineyard in Poreč, Croatia. The key physiological parameters examined included photo-synthetic activity, leaf water potential, the elemental composition of the grapevine leaves, and grape yield. Foliar applications were administered three times during the growing season, with five replicates per treatment. The results indicated that biochar treatments had no significant impact on photosynthetic activity, suggesting that foliar application did not cause leaf shading. However, higher biochar concentrations (B600 and B1200) led to increased leaf concentrations of nitrogen (2.1–3.8%), potassium (10.1–18.4 g/kg), sulfur (2.2–2.5 g/kg), boron (65.1–83.6 mg/kg), and manganese (42.4–69.8 mg/kg) compared to B300 and C treatments. Conversely, magnesium content decreased (2.1–2.7 g/kg), likely due to potassium–magnesium antagonism. Furthermore, the B600 treatment produced the highest grape yield (2.67 kg/vine), representing up to a 37% increase compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that the foliar application of biochar can be an effective and sustainable strategy to enhance vineyard productivity. Moreover, it offers a circular economy approach by valorizing grapevine pruning waste as a biochar source.

Keywords: grape yield; leaf elemental composition; leaf water potential; liquid fertilizer; photosynthesis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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