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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Microbial and Chemical Food Safety » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #432753
Research Project: Mitigation of Foodborne Pathogens in Water and Fresh Produce via Application of Biochar

Location: Microbial and Chemical Food Safety

Title: Germination, nutrient uptake, and growth of wheat and vegetable plant species in soils with and without antimicrobial hardwood biochar amendment

Author
item Olanya, Ocen
item Gurtler, Joshua
item Heller, Wade
item Carrara, Joseph
item Mullen, Charles
item Burke, Angela
item McKeever, Lindsay
item Garner, Christina

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The effect of soil amendment using hardwood biochar (HB) with antimicrobial properties, and how they impact soil properties and plant growth are not well characterized. In this research, we determined soil amendment (HB) effects on seed germination and growth of plant species (romaine lettuce, spinach, leek, tomato and wheat) in controlled environment (25C) and investigated seed germination, nutrient composition and plant growth. Soil properties, micro and macro elements were significantly increased by HB amendment with no adverse effects on seed germination. Uptake of macronutrients such as potassium and phosphorus were enhanced, and iron uptake increased by 50% and 37% on tomato and wheat respectively, in amended soil. Enhanced nutrient uptake in plants resulting from HB amendment can improve nutrient uptake in plant species.

Technical Abstract: Previous soil amendment with 2.5% alkaline hardwood biochar (HB) was shown to inactivate foodborne pathogenic Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, due to antimicrobial properties of biochar against pathogenic bacteria. However, the effect of this HB with antimicrobial properties on seed germination, nutrient uptake and plant growth has not been fully characterized. The objectives of this research were to characterize elemental composition of antimicrobial HB, and to determine the effect of HB soil amendment (2.5% w/w) on soil nutrient composition, seed germination, growth, and mineral nutrient uptake of grape tomato, romaine lettuce, spinach, wheat, and leek in controlled environment (25C). Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), elemental composition of HB had carbon (60%), oxygen (15%), and Mg, K and Ca at 1-10%. Soil pH, electrical onductivity, cation exchange capacity and macro elements were increased by HB amendment. HB amendment significantly (P<0.05) reduced germination of tomato, but not other plant species. Soil amendment enhanced uptake of some macro and micronutrients such as K and P by plant species. Iron uptake was increased by 50% and 37% on tomato and wheat, respectively. Plant height (cm) varied among cultivars but shoot and root weights were similar in amended soil and the control. As the goal of this research was to determine if soil amendment with HB, capable of inactivating foodborne Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in soil, would affect germination and plant growth, we conclude that soil amendment improved soil properties, had no adverse effects on seed germination, and it significantly (p<0.05) reduced plant heights on lettuce, tomato and wheat relative to the control. Enhanced nutrient uptake in plants resulting from HB amendment can improve nutrient uptake in plant species.