Effects of Biochar and Composts on Substrates Properties and Container-Grown Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Plants
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Biochar (BC) has the potential to be used as container substrates. However, effects of\nBC on container-grown plants depend on various factors including container substrate\ncomponents mixed with BC, BC percentage and plant type. The purpose of this project is\nto test the potential of BC and composts mixes to be used as replacements for the\ncommercial container substrates.\nIn the first experiment, mixes of 20%, 40%, 60% or 80% (by vol.) BC with 5%, 10%,\n15% or 20% (by vol.) vermicompost (VC) were evaluated as container substrate on basil\n(Ocimum basilicum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant growth compared to the\ncommercial peat-based substrate (control). The commercial substrate made up the\nremaining volume when the BC and VC did not add up to 100%. Growth index (GI) and\nthe total dry weight (DW) of basil and tomato in BC:VC mixes were similar to or higher\nthan the control at 9 weeks after transplanting (WAT). Therefore, the BC (20%, 40%, 60%\nor 80%, by vol.) and VC (5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, by vol.) mixes could be used as the\nalternative container substrates.\nBecause of the high price of VC, the lowest VC percentage (5%) from the first\nexperiment was selected for the second experiment. Chicken manure compost (CM) has\nsimilar fine texture to VC and is cheaper than VC. In the second experiment, mixes with\neither CM or VC (5%, by vol.) and BC (60%, 70%, 80% or 90%, by vol.) with the rest\nbeing the commercial substrate were evaluated to grow tomato and basil and compared to\nthe commercial substrate. At 8 WAT, the GI, shoot DW and fresh weight (FW), and root\nand total DW of basil in BC-compost mixes (except 80BC:5CM, 90BC:5VC and\n90BC:5CM) were similar to the control, respectively. The GI, stem, root, total DW, and\nred and total fruit FW and DW of tomato plants in BC-compost mixes (except 90BC:5CM)\nwere similar to or higher than the control. Therefore, 60% and 70% BC mixed with as low\nas 5% (by vol.) CM and VC can be used to grow basil and tomato plants in containers.
Author: Lan Huang
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2915016321