Tag Archives: biochar

571-584 M. Zhylina, P.P. Karnozhytskyi, D. Miroshnichenko, V. Konohrai, V. Sterna and J. Ozolins
The effect of growth stimulants based on humic acids from Ukrainian lignite and biochar from agricultural residues on the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
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The effect of growth stimulants based on humic acids from Ukrainian lignite and biochar from agricultural residues on the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

M. Zhylina¹²*, P.P. Karnozhytskyi³, D. Miroshnichenko³⁴, V. Konohrai⁵, V. Sterna² and J. Ozolins¹

¹Riga Technical University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Paula Valdena Street 3, K-1, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
²Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Stende Research Centre, Dizzemes, Dizstende, Libagu parish, Talsu County, LV-3258, Latvia
³Department of Oil, Gas and Solid Fuel Processing Technology, National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, 2, Kyrpychova Str., UA 61002 Kharkiv, Ukraine
⁴Coal Department, State Enterprise Ukrainian State Research Institute for Carbochemistry (UKHIN), UA 61023 Kharkov, Ukraine
⁵Education-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences, the Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, 81 Shevchenko Boulevard, UA 18031 Cherkasy, Ukraine
*Correspondence: maryna.zhylina@gmail.com

Abstract:

Significant amounts of plant-based waste are generated annually in the agricultural and food industries, including straw, corn residues, nutshells, and fruit pits. Disposing of this waste often relies on basic methods that avoid further processing, presenting an urgent environmental challenge. One efficient solution is converting biomass into biochar, which serves as a soil amendment. Developing cost-effective recycling methods has become critical with the increasing scarcity and rising cost of raw materials. The Dnipro Lignite Coal Basin in Ukraine offers extensive lignite reserves, enabling the production of affordable, high-quality humates for soil enhancement. In this study, wheat and barley straw were pelletized with barley bran at a 90:10 ratio. Pyrolysis was conducted at 500 °C with a heating rate of 5 °C·min⁻¹ and a one-hour holding time. The resulting biochar was added to a lettuce cultivation substrate at a 1:10 biochar-to-peat ratio. Humic substances derived from lignite were applied in 3% and 9% aqueous solutions, and environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature, were monitored throughout the 35-day trial. Results showed that granulated biochar increased lettuce rosette diameter by 7.5% compared to perlite substrates and by 11.6% compared to peat. Additionally, 3% humate solutions enhanced rosette diameter by 11.6% and biomass weight by 25.77%. These findings confirm that biochar from agricultural residues and lignite-derived humates effectively boost lettuce yield and quality.

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16-32 Z.A. Abdel-Salam, M.A. Abouzeid, M.M. El-Shazly and D.A.M. Abdou
Water deficit stress alleviation by bio-formulated native mycorrhizal species for wheat grown in a saline calcareous soil
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Water deficit stress alleviation by bio-formulated native mycorrhizal species for wheat grown in a saline calcareous soil

Z.A. Abdel-Salam¹*, M.A. Abouzeid², M.M. El-Shazly¹ and D.A.M. Abdou²

¹Department of Soil Fertility and Microbiology, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
*Correspondence: zenabahmed5@gmail.com

Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a genus of obligatory root biotrophs that can develop mutualistic symbioses with most terrestrial plants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of three different isolates of AMF (Acaulospora spinosa [M1], Glomus ambisporum [M2], and Scutellospora heterogama [M3]) isolated from native environments and three carriers (biochar, alginate, and polyacrylate) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a saline calcareous soil in conditions of water deficit. In a pot experiment, reduced amounts of water were applied at intervals of 4, 8, and 12 days, while in a field experiment, the intervals were 1, 2, and 3 weeks (W1, W2, and W3). By analyzing the chlorophyll index and dry weight data from the pot experiment, it was revealed that two AMF isolates (M1 and M2), along with two carriers (biochar and alginate), showed promising results in stimulating wheat growth. Based on these findings, a field validation experiment was conducted to further evaluate the effects of these isolates and carriers. The wheat plants subjected to water deficit stress exhibited improved vegetation characteristics, grain yield, nutrient uptake, and colonization percentage when treated with the AMF isolate M2 formulated on biochar. For instance, under W2 conditions without any mycorrhiza or carrier, the grain yield was recorded at 6,600 kg ha-1. However, with the inoculation of M2-biochar at the same W2 level, the yield significantly increased to 9110 kg ha‑1. The study concluded that AMF formulated on biochar outperformed other carriers, leading to enhanced wheat growth under water stress conditions.

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200-214 T. Kocsis, Z. Kotroczó, K. Juhos2, B. Ferschl, V. Rozmann, A. Brückner and B. Biró
Opposite tendency between yield and taste of organic tomato by increasing biochar doses in a slightly humous arenosol
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Opposite tendency between yield and taste of organic tomato by increasing biochar doses in a slightly humous arenosol

T. Kocsis¹*, Z. Kotroczó², K. Juhos²2, B. Ferschl³, V. Rozmann⁴, A. Brückner¹ and B. Biró²

¹Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Food Microbiology, Hygiene, and Safety, Somlói Str. 14–16, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
²Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of
Agro-Environmental Studies, Budapest, Villányi Str. 29–43, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
³Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Ecological and Sustainable Production Systems, Budapest, Villányi Str. 29–43, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
⁴Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural and Food Machinery, Villányi Str. 29–43, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary
*Correspondence: kocsis.tamas.jozsef@uni-mate.hu

Abstract:

The tomato is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum. Tomato plants are widely grown in temperate climates worldwide and are mostly cultivated as annuals. The objective of this study was to understand the interrelation between fruit quality of tomato, some soil biological parameters, and the addition of increasing biochar (BC) soil amendment doses. BC is an industrial product, made from organic waste by pyrolysis. Its use in the soil is known to improve fertility and several soil functions. Among organic, ecological conditions, a field experiment was performed in a type of slightly humous arenosol soil. Effect of increasing doses of biochar (BC) (0.5-, 1.0-, 2.5-, 5.0, 10 m/m% and control) was studied. Nutrient content and Total Soluble Solid (TSS) of the fruits, the ripeness, and the marketable/non-marketable ratio of yield were assessed. The presence of some cultivable microbial physiological groups (fungi, bacteria) and the soil-dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was estimated. Results represented that the changes of fruit TSS content was not linear with the increasing doses of BC. The increased yield (+53%) had an inverse correlation with the TSS content of the berry’s pulps, and the content was lowest at the highest BC dose. Optimum doses of BC were considered, like 1–2.5 m/m%, supported by the nutritive element content (+55% N, +76% P, +83% K) and enhanced microbial activities (+45% DHA). Grouping the parameters by Pearson Correlation Coefficient, the biochar amendment was a driving factor for tomato growth, with certain dose limits in the studied organic agricultural practice.

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862–871 B. Tamelová, J. Malaťák and J. Velebil
Hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction of cabbage waste
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Hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction of cabbage waste

B. Tamelová*, J. Malaťák and J. Velebil

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamýcká 129, CZCZ165 21 Prague, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: tamelova@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

In recent years, waste biomass has been increasingly becoming an energy source. The utilization of biomass includes a number of potential treatments: thermochemical, physicochemical and biochemical. In the food industry, significant amounts of biodegradable wastes are produced which have to be quickly treated to not pose an environmental problem. In this work cabbage waste (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) was treated by hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction.
Hydrothermal carbonization experiments were carried out in a pressure reactor vessel Berghof BR-300 (inner volume 400 mL, temperature regulation by Berghof BTC 3000). The carbonization took place at target temperatures 180 °C and 225 °C. Torrefaction tests were carried out in a thermogravimetric programmable oven LECO TGA701 under nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures 225 °C, 250 °C and 275 °C. The residence time was 30 min for both processes. Proximate and elemental composition, as well as calorific value was analysed in all samples. To express the influence of the treatments on combustion behaviour, stoichiometric combustion calculations were performed.
The analyses show a positive effect of both torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization on fuel properties in the samples. Most obvious is the reduction in oxygen content which depends on the process temperature. After hydrothermal carbonization at 225 °C the oxygen content was lowered by 46.7%. The net calorific value increased proportionally with temperature in both processes. After hydrothermal carbonization at 225 °C the net calorific value increased on average by 3 MJ kg-1 to 20.89 MJ kg-1. Both tested processes significantly increased the fuel value of this biodegradable waste.

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614–623 J. Velebil, J. Malalák and J. Bradna
Mass and energetic yields of hydrochar from brewer’s spent grain
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Mass and energetic yields of hydrochar from brewer’s spent grain

J. Velebil*, J. Malalák and J. Bradna

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of
Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamýcká 129, CZ 165 21 Prague, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: velebil@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

 Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) was hydrothermally carbonized at combinations of three temperatures (180 °C, 215 °C, 250 °C) and three reaction times (2 h, 5 h, 12 h). For comparison, the corresponding barley malt was also tested at the same conditions. Elemental composition, volatile matter, ash and heating values were determined for original biomasses as well as resulting hydrochars. The mass yield of dry BSG hydrochar ranged from 45 to 73%. The energetic yield defined as retention of total lower heating value in the hydrochar on dry basis ranged from 66 to 85%. Specific lower heating value of dry material rose from 20.6 MJ kg-1 to 30.3 MJ kg-1 at the most severe conditions. Nitrogen and sulphur content in hydrochar were not strongly dependent on reaction conditions.

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