Abstract
The development of sustainable and efficient plant growth substrates is crucial for modern agriculture. This study assessed the potential of plant pellets formulated from various lignocellulosic residues, either with or without bamboo biochar (BB-char) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to support seed germination and early seedling growth. Four types of residues, including coconut coir (CO), corn cob (CC), leaves from the genus Dipterocarpus (DL), and teak leaves (TL), were combined with soil and paper waste to produce eight pellet formulations, with commercial peat pellets serving as a control. Chemical analyses revealed significant variation among the pellet types, with pH values ranging from 6.40 to 7.65, electrical conductivity (EC) from 3.64 to 11.62 mS cm−1, and differences in organic matter, carbon, and nutrient contents [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)], reflecting the influence of residue type and the addition of BB-char and AMF. Phytotoxicity screening using aqueous extracts demonstrated species-specific responses, with cucumber exhibiting high tolerance across treatments, whereas chili seeds were more sensitive. Final germination percentage (FGP) and seedling growth assays in greenhouse conditions showed that pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets. In contrast, DL- and TL-based pellets resulted in lower germination and growth. These findings indicate that both the physicochemical properties of lignocellulosic wastes and the combination of BB-char and AMF are important factors influencing pellet efficacy, highlighting the potential of CC- and CO-based pellets as sustainable peat alternatives for early-stage plant cultivation.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumber had high tolerance across phytotoxicity screening treatments.
- Taxon
- cucumber
Cucumis sativuse0 - Outcome
- high tolerancee0
- Qualifier
- across treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cucumber exhibiting high tolerance across treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
Chili seeds were more sensitive in phytotoxicity screening.
Verbatim
e0“chili seeds were more sensitive”
Claim · model-written summary
CC and CO pellets with BB-char and AMF enhanced carrot shoot and root development, approaching peat pellets.
- Taxon
- carrot
Daucus carotae0 - Treatment
- pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7)e0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- shoot and root developmente0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- commercial peat pelletse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets.”
Claim · model-written summary
CC and CO pellets with BB-char and AMF enhanced chili shoot and root development, approaching peat pellets.
Verbatim
e0“pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets.”
Claim · model-written summary
CC and CO pellets with BB-char and AMF enhanced cucumber shoot and root development, approaching peat pellets.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativuse0
- Treatment
- pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7)e0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- shoot and root developmente0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- commercial peat pelletse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets.”
Claim · model-written summary
CC and CO pellets with BB-char and AMF enhanced tomato shoot and root development, approaching peat pellets.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume0 - Treatment
- pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7)e0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- shoot and root developmente0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- commercial peat pelletse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“pellets derived from CC and CO, particularly when combined with BB-char and AMF (T6 and T7), enhanced shoot and root development in carrot, chili, cucumber, and tomato, approaching the performance of commercial peat pellets.”
Claim · model-written summary
DL- and TL-based pellets gave lower germination and growth.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“DL- and TL-based pellets resulted in lower germination and growth.”
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See all 21 papers →8 of 16 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.
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.