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2025 Vol.37, Issue 1 Preview Page

Research Article

Confirmation of Lettuce Growth Differences and Growing Substrate Changes According to Unused Agrobyproduct Biochar
Seon Yeop Kim1†
,
Jae Youl Shin1†
,
Ha Eun Kim1†
,
Sunyong Park2
,
Kwang Cheol Oh2
,
Seok Jun Kim3
,
La Hoon Cho3
,
Dae Hyun Kim4*
1Undergraduate student, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Korea
2Researcher, Agriculture and Life Science Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Korea
3PhD student, Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Korea
4Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
31 March 2025. pp. 35-47
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Abstract

Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from biomass pyrolysis at high temperatures under oxygen-limited conditions, is recognized for its benefits in growing substrate improvement, water retention, nutrient supply, and carbon sequestration. This study investigated the effects of biochar application on lettuce growth. Biochar was produced from bamboo, coffee grounds, and coconut peat through pyrolysis at 500°C for one hour. It was incorporated into the growing substrate at a 5% (w/w) ratio, and lettuce was cultivated for three weeks. Environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration, were monitored using sensors during the cultivation period. The results revealed that lettuce growth was most pronounced in growing substrate amended with coconut peat biochar, achieving a length of 84 mm and width of 51 mm, compared with the control group, which exhibited a length of 45 mm and width of 24 mm. Statistical analysis using a t-test confirmed that the growth differences between biochar-treated growing substrates and the control group were significant (p < 0.05), particularly for coconut peat biochar. All biochar-treated growing substrates promoted greater lettuce growth than the control, suggesting that biochar application creates a favorable environment for crop development. This study confirms that biochar is an effective growing substrate amendment for lettuce cultivation. Further investigations are needed to evaluate its broader applicability across diverse crops and environmental conditions.

Keywords
Biochar
Carbon sequestration
Lettuce growth
Unused agrobyproducts
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Information
  • Publisher :Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :강원대학교 농업생명과학대학 농업생명과학연구원
  • Journal Title :Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업생명환경연구
  • Volume : 37
  • No :1
  • Pages :35-47
  • Received Date : 2024-12-26
  • Revised Date : 2025-02-19
  • Accepted Date : 2025-03-02
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22698/jales.20250004
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