An examination of physical and chemical properties of urban biochar for use as growing media substrate

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability and optimum rate of addition of Urban Biochar (UB) as an alternative to standard coir peat in plant growing media. UB was prepared through pyrolysis of 2:1 ratio of biosolids to greenwaste on a dry mass basis. Two incubation experiments are reported both with five different growing media mixtures which were subjected to periodic wetting and drying. Media mixtures consisted of different rates of UB (100%, 60%, 40%, 20%) mixed with composted pine bark on a volume basis and compared to an industry standard media with 0% UB. The physical and chemical properties of the mixtures were compared pre and post incubation. Substituting coir peat ..