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Biochar and Trichoderma as an Eco-friendly and Low-Cost Alternative to Improve Soil Chemical and Biological Properties

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar and Trichoderma spp. on soil chemical and biological properties and to determine whether their combined application could be a sustainable alternative in soil cultivated with tomatoes. We hypothesized that the application of biochar and Trichoderma spp. would alter the soil’s chemical and biological properties.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, we conducted a field experiment and evaluated the soil’s chemical and biological properties.

Results

Our findings revealed that seven soil parameters, namely pH, P, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and total organic C, had a significant influence on the activity of acid phosphatase and urease. We further used machine learning models of soil properties to predict the efficiency of biochar and Trichoderma spp. in improving soil quality. These models demonstrated satisfactory performance in simulating the changes in soil properties induced by biochar, based on both predicted and experimental yield results.

Conclusion

Overall, our study provides important insights into the potential use of biochar and Trichoderma spp. as sustainable alternatives to mineral fertilizer for increasing tomato yield, while also highlighting their effects on soil biological and chemical properties

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank fellowships and grants from CNPq (313421/2021-8, 313174/2018-0; 426497/2018-0; 307335/2017-8; ONDACBC:465764/2014-2 and NEXUS: 441305/2017-2), and FACEPE (APQ-1747-5.01/22; APQ-1464-5.01/22; APQ-0223-5.01/15; APQ-0419-5.01/15; APQ-0431-5.01/17; APQ-0498-3.07/17). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES 88887.736369/2017-00).

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico – CNPq (Grant No. 313421/2021-8).

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Author notes

  1. Erika Valente de Medeiros, Diogo Paes da Costa, Everlaine Leopoldino Dias Silva, Alan Ferreira de França, José Romualdo de Sousa Lima, Claude Hammecker, Lucas William Mendes, Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira and Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Agricultural/environmental Microbiology and Enzymology-LEMA, Federal University of Agreste Pernambuco, Garanhuns, 55292-270, Brazil

    Erika Valente de Medeiros, Diogo Paes da Costa, Everlaine Leopoldino Dias Silva, Alan Ferreira de França & José Romualdo de Sousa Lima

  2. Soil-Agrosystem-Hydrosystem Interaction Lab-LISAH, Place Pierre Viala, 2, 34060, Montpellier, France

    Claude Hammecker

  3. Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo CENA-USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Lucas William Mendes

  4. Soil Science Department, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

    Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira

  5. Soil Quality Lab, Agricultural Science Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil

    Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo

Authors
  1. Erika Valente de Medeiros
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  2. Diogo Paes da Costa
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  9. Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo
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Contributions

EVM, JRSL, and CH conceived this study. AFF, ELDS, and DPC conducted the experiment, collected samples, and proceeded. DPC, APAP, and LWM provided the bioinformatic data DPC performed the statistical, network analyses and generate the results. EVM, ASFA, JRSL, CH, DPC, APAP, and LWM interpreted the results and elaborated the main arguments. All authors wrote and reviewed and the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erika Valente de Medeiros.

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de Medeiros, E.V., da Costa, D.P., Silva, E.L.D. et al. Biochar and Trichoderma as an Eco-friendly and Low-Cost Alternative to Improve Soil Chemical and Biological Properties. Waste Biomass Valor 15, 1439–1450 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02240-2

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