To reveal the precise impact of biochar on crop yield and quality in urban indoor farming systems, soil and soil-less vegetable cultivation experiments with biochar were conducted in this study.
Researchers integrated horticultural waste biochar into the soil (1 %, 2 %, 5 %, 10 %) in soil experiments and replaced peat moss with biochar (10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 %) in soil-less experiments. Plant growth performance, mineral nutrient profile, and photosynthesis properties were determined. In soil-based systems, biochar significantly increased lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) yield, with a fourfold increase through a 2 % biochar application compared to no biochar treatment. Biochar applications of up to 5 % substantially raised essential mineral nutrient concentrations (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na), while 10 % biochar treatments had minimal or negative impacts on mineral nutrients. In soil-less systems, substantial biochar substitution for peat moss resulted in a slight reduction in fresh yield while maintaining similar leaf areas. Replacing peat moss with biochar led to slight decreases in mineral nutrient concentrations, with no significant differences observed at replacement levels up to 40 %. Using biochar decreased the concentration of heavy metals in the lettuce, except for Cr. Notably, biochar had minimal effects on lettuce photosynthesis in both production systems.
In summary, this research underscores biochar's potential to enhance crop yield and nutrient content in urban indoor farming, emphasizing the importance of determining the optimal biochar application rate in the cultivation, especially when replacing peat moss in vegetable production.
Yang, X., Wong, S. C., Ge, L. Y., Chan, W. P., & Lisak, G. (2025). Enhancing vegetable yield and quality in urban farming under soil and soil-less conditions: The synergistic role of biochar in food security and waste management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 513, 145724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145724
Source: Science Direct