The Different Expressions of Draft Cherry Tomato Growth, Yield, Quality under Bamboo and Rice Husk Biochars Application to Clay Loamy Soil

This study evaluated the different expressions of cherry tomato growth, yield and quality under bamboo and rice husk biochar applications to soil. The experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions at Hakozaki campus, Kyushu University, Japan and consisted of 5 treatments, namely 1) no biochar application as a control;2) 2% (RH2) and 3) 5% (RH5) of rice husk biochar;4) 2% (BB2) and 5) 5% (BB5) of bamboo biochar. Bamboo biochar application significantly improved tomato growth, including number of leaves, fresh biomass yield of aboveground and underground parts for BB5;number of fruit;fresh yield from 24% - 25% for BB2 and BB5. In particular, both bamboo and rice husk biochar application at two rates 2% and 5% had positive effects on tomato quality, demonstrated by the increased total sugar content from 56% to 91%, and the enhancement of ascorbic acid content for BB2 and RH2 by 12% and 17%, respectively. Those improvements reflected the soil physiochemical property changes after biochar application, including the increase in plant available water for bamboo biochar amendment before and after cultivating by 25% - 38% and 9% - 18%, respectively, compared with those of control;and the increased total soil N for bamboo biochar treatments (11% - 14%). Generally, all data above support bamboo biochar utilization for the purpose of improving soil properties and developing crop production.

Effects of Rice Husk and Rice Husk Charcoal on Soil Physicochemical Properties, Rice Growth and Yield

To investigate the effect of the application of rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) on soil properties and rice production, pot experiment comprising of five treatments was conducted. Soil was mixed at the rate of 0 (control), 2% and 4% (w/w) with RH and RHC, respectively with randomized complete block design (RCBD). RHC incorporation had a potential to reduce the acidity of the soil, whereas, RH incorporation had almost no effect on the pH of the soil. RH and RHC amendment both increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity, saturated water content, plant available water and field capacity but decreased the bulk density of soil. Crop growth components at harvest revealed that the highest plant height was recorded in RH4%. However, for the panicle length, panicle weight and number of tillers, the highest value was found in RHC2%, 14.2 cm, 4.0 g and 28.8 cm, respectively. Furthermore, number of panicle, 1000-grains weight and grain yield were also found highest in RHC2%, 22.4 g and 4.41 t/ha, respectively. However, for the number of grain per panicle and percentage of filled grain, the highest value was found in RH4%, 79.0 and 88.5, respectively. The grain yield increased by 38%, 28%, 18% and 22% and the biological yield increased by 27%, 18%, 14%, and 16% for RHC2%, RHC4%, RH2%, and RH4%, respectively, compared to that of the control;however, the significant difference was found only for RHC2% for both. The harvest index increased under all application rates of RH and RHC compared to that of control.

Enhancing soil water holding capacity and provision of a potassium source via optimization of the pyrolysis of bamboo biochar

Rapid expansion of cultivated bamboo negatively impacts on biodiversity and soil microbial community.As such,it is important to properly manage and use bamboo to prevent and control such issues.This study focuses on optimizing pyrolysis conditions to produce bamboo biochar for agricultural soil amendment,particularly soil potassium(K)and water holding capacity.Bamboo chips were pyrolyzed under nitrogen gas at 400,600,and 800℃ for 1 and 2 h of retention.A total of six biochar products were created:400-1(i.e.,400℃ in 1 h),400-2,600-1,600-2,800-1,and 800-2.The 600℃ bamboo biochar products were observed to have the greatest potential in increasing soil K and water holding capacity.The 600-1 product had the highest potassium content(4.87%),with a water holding capacity of 3.73 g g^(−1),while the 600-2 product had the second-highest potassium content(4.13%)and the highest water holding capacity(4.21 g g^(−1))and cation exchange capacity.The K release in 600℃ products was larger and slower than that of the 400℃ and 800℃ products,respectively.The results also indicated that the physicochemical characteristics of bamboo biochar,such as yield,pH,surface area,water holding capacity,and K content,were significantly impacted by temperature,retention time,or a combination of these parameters.The outcomes from this study are a valuable reference for bamboo biochar production targeting agricultural soil amendment,particularly when it is directed at increasing soil K and water holding capacity.

Correction to:Enhancing soil water holding capacity and provision of a potassium source via optimization of the pyrolysis of bamboo biochar

The article“Enhancing soil water holding capacity and provision of a potassium source via optimization of the pyrolysis of bamboo biochar”,written by Tran Thi Thu Hien,Toshiki Tsubota,Tomoyuki Taniguchi and Yoshi-yuki Shinogi was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal on 20th of October 2020 without open access.With the author(s)’decision to opt for Open Choice the copyright of the article changed on December 2020 to©“The Author(s)2020”and the article is forth-with distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License(https://creat iveco mmons.org/licen ses/by/4.0/),which permits use,sharing,adaptation,distribu-tion and reproduction in any medium or format.