Characterisation of corncob biochar and phytotoxic effects of different biochar treatments on seed germination of cress (Lepidium sativum)

Publikations-Art

Poster

Autoren

Intani, K; Islam, M.S.; Latif, S; Müller, J

Erscheinungsjahr

2016

Veröffentlicht in

Book of abstracts

Seite (von - bis)

43

Tagungsname

24th EUBCE 2016

Tagungsort

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tagungsdatum

6 - 9 June 2016

Schlagworte

Biochar, Corncob, cress, Germination, Phytotoxicity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic effects of different biochar treatments on seed germination of cress (Lepidium sativum). Corncob biochar was produced using a batch reactor and characterised using standard methods. Simple and low-cost germination tests were done in mini greenhouses. Cress seeds were germinated in four biochar treatments and a control. The biochar treatments included fresh biochar (FB), dried biochar (DB), biochar water extract (BWE), and biochar after water extraction (BAWE). The application rates of 10, 20 and 30 t/ha were investigated. In the control (CON), the seeds were germinated in sand mixed with de-ionized water. Significant phytotoxic effects of biochar were observed on cress in all of the investigated parameters, while acute toxic effects were identified in FB and BWE treatments. The total relative seed germination decreased with the increase of biochar application rates in all treatments. The observed order of negative effects of the biochar treatments on germination, shoot length, and shoot fresh weight of every biochar application rate was FB>BWE>DB>BAWE, while it was a reverse order for the dry matter content.