Assessing sewage sludge-made biochar and compochar (compost+biochar mix) as horticultural soilless substrates
A preliminary study was conducted on the use of biochar as a soil amendment in a pot greenhouse study to evaluate its effects on soil fungi communities, chemical properties, and the yield of lettuce and tomatoes. Biochars treatments had been found to influence chemical and physical soil properties such as moisture content, pH and the different nitrogen soil compounds. These effects were found to be affected due to sorption effects of nutrients and organic compounds. The study also noted that biochar had an impact on the surface properties and characteristics of soil aggregates. This can influence soil structure and the distribution of nutrients within the soil, which in turn can have consequences for plant growth. The study suggested that the properties of biochar may have a direct or indirect impact on the trophic functionality of these fungal communities.. The effect of biochar on soil fungal community abundance and composition were found to be strongly affected by crop growth. The relative abundance of soil fungal phyla under the two plant species and three different biochar treatments indicated a positive effect of biochar on biomass production. This suggests that biochar application had a beneficial effect on plant growth and yield, possibly through its influence on soil properties and the soil fungal community.