Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media – an option to reduce the pressure on peatlands?

Abstract

Peat is used as a high quality substrate for growing media in horticulture. However, unsustainable peat extraction damages peatland ecosystems, which disappeared to a large extent in Central and South Europe. Furthermore, disturbed peatlands are becoming a source of greenhouse gases due to drainage and excavation. This study is the result of a workshop within the EU COST Action TD1107 (Biochar as option for sustainable resource management), held in Tartu (Estonia) in 2015. The view of stakeholders were consulted on new biochar-based growing media and to what extent peat may be replaced in growing media by new compounds like carbonaceous materials from thermochemical conversion. First positive results from laboratory and greenhouse experiments have been reported with biochar content in growing media ranging up to 50%. Various companies have already started to use biochar as an additive in their growing media formulations. Biochar might play a more important role in replacing peat in growing media, when biochar is available, meets the quality requirements, and their use is economically feasible.

Keywords:

• biochar
• greenhouse gases
• growing media
• horticulture
• organic matter
• peatland
• peat extraction restoration

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jürgen Kern

Jürgen KERN. PhD, Senior Scientist of Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Germany, 1211 citations. H-index 16 (Google Scholar).

Priit Tammeorg

Priit TAMMEORG. DSc, Postdoctoral Researcher in Agroecology, Dept of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, 11 peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals, H-index 6 (WoS).

Merrit Shanskiy

Merrit SHANSKIY. PhD, Associated professor of Soil Science, Dept of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Estonian University of Life Sciences. H-index 9 (Google Scholar).

Ruben Sakrabani

Ruben SAKRABANI. PhD, Senior Lecturer in Soil Chemistry, Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute, Cranfield University, 30 peer-reviewed articles. H-index 10 (Google Scholar).

Heike Knicker

Heike KNICKER. PhD, Profesora de investigación, IRNAS-CSIC, 178 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, Hindex 48 (WoS).

Claudia Kammann

Claudia KAMMANN. PhD, Professor for Climate Change Research for Special Crops, Institute for Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Geisenheim, Germany, 58 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, 7 book chapters, 2453 citations, h-index 27 (Google Scholar).

Eeva-Maria Tuhkanen

Eeva-Maria TUHKANEN. Former Luomala, PhD, Senior Research Scientist in Horticulture, Natural Resources Institute Finland. 10 peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals, total number of publications 106.

Geerd Smidt

Geerd SMIDT. PhD, Scientific director, European Competence Center for Peatland and Climate, Wagenfeld, Germany, 3 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, 3 book chapters.

Munoo Prasad

Munoo PRASAD. PhD, Researcher/Owner, Compost/AD Research & Advisory, Board Member, Irish Research Council of Science, Engineering & Technology 2001–2006, Ireland, Special Scientist, Cyprus University of Technology Cyprus, 71 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, Editor, one book, author of 4 chapters of books and 2 two international patents.

Kari Tiilikkala

Kari TIILIKKALA. DSc, Professor. Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 41 peer-reviewed publications, total number of publications 350.

Saran Sohi

Saran SOHI. PhD, Lecturer in Soil Science and Biochar, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 50 peer-reviewed publications, 4844 citations, H-index 32 (Google Scholar).

Gabriel Gascó

Gabriel GASCÓ. PhD, Associate Professor of Soil Science, School of Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, Spain, 50 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. H-index 20 (Google Scholar).

Christoph Steiner

Christoph STEINER. PhD, Research Associate and project coordination UrbanFoodPlus, Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel, Germany, 16 peer-reviewed publications, 2 books, 1 edition, 19 book chapters, H-index 21 (Google Scholar).

Bruno Glaser

Bruno GLASER. PhD, Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, 137 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. H-index 37 (WoS).