Abstract
From the perspective of sustainable agri-food production, farmers need to make the best use of natural resources. Biochar can be a solution to adopt a more sustainable way of farming. Despite its environmental and agronomic advantages, biochar has a low plant nutrient value. This study evaluated the effect of biochar and the co-application of an inorganic or organic fertilizer on the soil properties, growth and nutrient content of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cycla, Caryophyllales order, Chenopodiaceae family). The experiment consisted of two factors: biochar type (from vineyard prunings and wood chips) and fertilizing source (ammonium nitrate and vermicompost). Biochars were applied at a 2% rate (w/w) and fertilizers at a dose providing 280 kg N ha−1. The soil properties (pH, EC, extractable anions, cations, total N, Corg and C/N ratio) were measured before the plants were transplanted and at the end of the growing cycle, along with the growth parameters (leaf number, length and fresh weight) of each leaf cut, the productive parameters (total number of leaves and yield per plant) at the end of the growing cycle and the leaf content of anions (NO3−, P2O43−, SO42−), cations (NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and total N. The co-application of biochar and a fertilizing source had a positive effect on soil properties and leaf nutrient content. Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% and plant yield by 116%, in contrast to biochar, and increased limited leaf NO3− accumulation by about 81% in comparison to ammonium nitrate. The co-application of biochar and vermicompost is the better option to increase Swiss chard yield while preserving the nutritional and health qualities of the product.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar and fertilizer co-application improved leaf nutrient content.
- Taxon
- Swiss chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgarist0 - Treatment
- co-application of biochar and a fertilizing sourcee0
- Outcome
- leaf nutrient contente0
- Direction
- positive effecte0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The co-application of biochar and a fertilizing source had a positive effect on soil properties and leaf nutrient content.”
t0“Swiss Chard”
Claim · model-written summary
Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% compared with biochar.
- Taxon
- Swiss chardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarist0
- Treatment
- Vermicomposte0
- Outcome
- plant growthe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 22%e0
- Comparator
- biochare0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% and plant yield by 116%, in contrast to biochar”
t0“Swiss Chard”
Claim · model-written summary
Vermicompost increased yield by 116% compared with biochar.
- Taxon
- Swiss chardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarist0
- Treatment
- Vermicomposte0
- Outcome
- plant yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 116%e0
- Comparator
- biochare0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% and plant yield by 116%, in contrast to biochar”
t0“Swiss Chard”
Claim · model-written summary
Vermicompost increased leaf nitrate accumulation by about 81% relative to ammonium nitrate.
- Taxon
- Swiss chardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarist0
- Treatment
- Vermicomposte0
- Outcome
- leaf NO3− accumulatione0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- about 81%e0
- Comparator
- ammonium nitratee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Vermicompost increased plant growth by 22% and plant yield by 116%, in contrast to biochar, and increased limited leaf NO3− accumulation by about 81% in comparison to ammonium nitrate.”
t0“Swiss Chard”
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