Application of Compost and Biochar Mixtures to Soils to Produce Parsley Plants Rich in Nutrients and Antioxidant Compounds

Abstract

Composts and biochar individually or in combination have been used for decades for improving soil quality and health. To date, very few studies have focused on the quality of food produced using compost-biochar mixtures. In this study, the use of biochar to improve the fertilization effect of composts and the quality of greenhouse-grown parsley was investigated by adding biochar to composts made from a mixture of broiler chicken wastes and sugar bagasse, sawdust, urban trees, napier grass, or cotton residues. On average, highest N and P contents were obtained with the bagasse- and sawdust-biochar substrates. The tree-biochar substrate led to increased levels of phenolic compounds in parsley compared to all the other organic substrates.

Keywords

• broiler chicken wastes
• bioactive compounds
• nitrogen
• <i>Petroselinum crispum</i> Mill
• potassium
• food quality