Effects of Biochar on Soil Properties and Tomato Growth
Suzana Ioana Calcan,
Oana Cristina Pârvulescu,
Violeta Alexandra Ion,
Cristian Eugen Răducanu,
Liliana Bădulescu,
Roxana Madjar,
Tănase Dobre,
Diana Egri,
Andrei Moț,
Lavinia Mihaela Iliescu,
Ionuț Ovidiu Jerca
Affiliations
Suzana Ioana Calcan
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Oana Cristina Pârvulescu
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Violeta Alexandra Ion
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Cristian Eugen Răducanu
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Liliana Bădulescu
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Madjar
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Tănase Dobre
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Diana Egri
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Str., 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Andrei Moț
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Lavinia Mihaela Iliescu
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Ionuț Ovidiu Jerca
Research Center for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., 011464 Bucharest, Romania
The paper aimed at evaluating the effects of biochar (BC) produced by slow pyrolysis of vine pruning residue on soil physicochemical properties and tomato plant growth. A greenhouse experiment was conducted for 66 days, applying different treatments for 3 soil types, i.e., foliar fertilizer, BC (at a volumetric ratio between BC and soil of 20/80), BC + foliar fertilizer, and no treatments. Strongly alkaline BC (pH = 9.89 ± 0.01) had a significant beneficial effect on the growth performance of tomato plants sown in a strongly acidic soil (pH = 5.40 ± 0.02). The mean values of height, number of leaves, and collar diameter of plants grown in BC-amended soil without foliar treatment were up to 50% higher than those of plants grown in soil with the other treatments. This positive effect of BC on plant growth is due to the changes in the soil properties. The addition of BC led to increased values of electrical conductivity, pH, soluble and available nutrient concentration. Moreover, BC reduced soil bulk density by about 50%, resulting in improved plant root development and thus enhanced water and nutrient uptake. Accordingly, BC derived from vine pruning residues can improve soil quality and tomato plant growth, as well as reduce biomass residues.
