Plant Growth and Chemical Properties of Commercial Biochar- versus Peat-Based Growing Media

Peatlands have been irreversibly destroyed by draining and mining for horticulture, in the course of which tremendous amounts greenhouse gasses were released into atmosphere. To avoid this future, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed to substitute peat as growing media. An appropriate alternative could be biochar, because it has beneficial effects on nutrient availability retention, water holding capacity, organic matter stability. In study, we compared three different commercially available biochar-containing media (Palaterra, Sonnenerde, Terra Magica) with peat-based (CompoSana, Dehner die leichte, mit Vorratsdünger), a randomized pot experiment. Pure sand was used control and, test potential amount effect, mixed increasing pure (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 volume % individual media). The consecutive yields several agronomically relevant cereals (barley, wheat, maize) measured mixtures mentioned previously. Additionally, contents amino sugar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons each before after growth experiments. Only Sonnenerde exhibited an increased plant yield 30–40% no significant differences chemical soil properties during slight tendencies recognizable towards higher fungal community biochar- A clear fungi contribution observed Palaterra, most probably due fact that production ingredient. Surprisingly, also contained about 30 g kg−1 black carbon, polycondensed carbon typical biochar. Overall, our results indicated media, especially is horticulture can enhance degraded soils.