Biochar and Trichoderma as an Eco-friendly and Low-Cost Alternative to Improve Soil Chemical and Biological Properties
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar and Trichoderma spp. on soil chemical and biological properties and to determine whether their combined application could be a sustainable alternative in soil cultivated with tomatoes. We hypothesized that the application of biochar and...
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Published in | Waste and biomass valorization Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 1439 - 1450 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Dordrecht
Springer Netherlands
01.03.2024
Springer Nature B.V Springer |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar and
Trichoderma
spp. on soil chemical and biological properties and to determine whether their combined application could be a sustainable alternative in soil cultivated with tomatoes. We hypothesized that the application of biochar and
Trichoderma
spp. would alter the soil’s chemical and biological properties.
Methods
To test this hypothesis, we conducted a field experiment and evaluated the soil’s chemical and biological properties.
Results
Our findings revealed that seven soil parameters, namely pH, P, Na
+
, K
+
, Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
, and total organic C, had a significant influence on the activity of acid phosphatase and urease. We further used machine learning models of soil properties to predict the efficiency of biochar and
Trichoderma
spp. in improving soil quality. These models demonstrated satisfactory performance in simulating the changes in soil properties induced by biochar, based on both predicted and experimental yield results.
Conclusion
Overall, our study provides important insights into the potential use of biochar and Trichoderma spp. as sustainable alternatives to mineral fertilizer for increasing tomato yield, while also highlighting their effects on soil biological and chemical properties
Graphical Abstract |
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ISSN: | 1877-2641 1877-265X |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12649-023-02240-2 |