Suitability of co-composted biochar with spent coffee grounds substrate for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruiting stage
Entity
UAM. Departamento de Química AgrícolaPublisher
MDPIDate
2023-01-10Citation
10.3390/horticulturae9010089
Horticulturae 9.1 (2023): 89
ISSN
2311-7524 (online)DOI
10.3390/horticulturae9010089Editor's Version
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010089Subjects
Biochar; Spent Coffee Grounds; Compost; Circular Economy; Peat Replacement; QuímicaRights
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, SwitzerlandAbstract
Peat is the predominant component of growing media in soilless horticultural systems. However, peat extraction from peatlands destroys these fragile ecosystems and emits greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Peat replacement by other growing media is, thus, paramount to ensure a more sustainable horticultural sector. This study investigated the agronomical performances of two spent coffee ground-based composts with and without biochar, during three different stages of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) development: seeds germination (0–6 days), seedling development (7–49 days), and plant-to-fruit maturity (36–100 days). The two composts were used as peat replacement and mixed with peat at four different volumetric proportions: 100% (pure compost), 50%, 30%, and 15%. The substrates had a stimulant effect on seed germination but induced stunted growth due to the elevated electrical conductivity. For the latest stages of plant development, compost with and without biochar mixed with peat at 50% promoted an increase in fruit production of 60.8% and 100.3%, compared to the control substrate. The present study provides evidence that combining biochar with spent coffee ground compost represents a potential alternative for peat-based growing media promoting a circular production model in the horticultural sector, but the results are dilution- and plant development stage-dependent
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Google Scholar:Picca, Giuseppe
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Goñi-Urtiaga, Asier
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Gomez-Ruano, Cristina
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Plaza, César
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Panettieri, Marco
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