Abstract
Biochar has been recognized as a promising and efficient material for soil amendment. However, its effects on seed germination are variable due to its alkaline pH and/or the presence of phytotoxic substances. In this study, two types of biochar (B1 and B2) were mixed with soil at different concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100%, w:w), and both the solid and liquid fractions of these mixtures were tested on the germination of basil, lettuce and tomato seeds. Furthermore, solid fractions subjected to a pre-washing treatment (B1W and B2W) were also investigated for their effects on seed germination. Three germination parameters were then measured: seed germination number (GN), radicle length (RL) and germination index (GI). Biochar B2W at 10% increased both RL and GI in basil by 50% and 70%, respectively, while B1 at 25% increased these parameters in tomato by 25%. No effects or negative effects were recorded for lettuce. Liquid fractions (L1 and L2) generally hampered seed germination, suggesting the presence of potentially water-soluble phytotoxic compounds in biochar. These results point to biochar as a suitable component for germination substrates and highlight that germination tests are critical to select the best performing biochar according to the target crop.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Washed B2 biochar at 10% increased basil radicle length by 50%.
Ocimum basilicumNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biochar B2W at 10% increased both RL and GI in basil by 50% and 70%, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Washed B2 biochar at 10% increased basil germination index by 70%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biochar B2W at 10% increased both RL and GI in basil by 50% and 70%, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
B1 biochar at 25% increased tomato radicle length by 25%.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume0 - Treatment
- B1 at 25%e0
- Outcome
- these parameterse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 25%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“B1 at 25% increased these parameters in tomato by 25%”
Claim · model-written summary
B1 biochar at 25% increased tomato germination index by 25%.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- B1 at 25%e0
- Outcome
- these parameterse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 25%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“B1 at 25% increased these parameters in tomato by 25%”
Claim · model-written summary
Lettuce showed no or negative responses.
- Taxon
- lettuce
Lactuca sativae0 - Outcome
- No effects or negative effectse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“No effects or negative effects were recorded for lettuce”
Claim · model-written summary
Liquid biochar fractions generally hampered seed germination.
- Taxon
- Three Model Cropst0
- Treatment
- Liquid fractions (L1 and L2)e0
- Outcome
- seed germinatione0
- Direction
- hamperede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Liquid fractions (L1 and L2) generally hampered seed germination”
t0“Three Model Crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors regard biochar as suitable for germination substrates.
Verbatim
e0“These results point to biochar as a suitable component for germination substrates”
t0“Three Model Crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors recommend germination tests to select biochar for each target crop.
Verbatim
e0“germination tests are critical to select the best performing biochar according to the target crop”
t0“Three Model Crops”
The same questions in other papers
biochar · growth · Ocimum basilicum (basil)Positive and negative results
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See all 11 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.