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Steam-Exploded Pruning Waste as Peat Substitute: Physiochemical Properties, Phytotoxicity and Their Implications for Plant Cultivation

Author

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  • Rui Yang

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
    These authors contribute equally to this work.)

  • Xuejiao Chen

    (School of Food and Biotechnology, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
    These authors contribute equally to this work.)

  • Dongdong Zhang

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China)

  • Hong Wang

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China)

  • Wanlai Zhou

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China)

  • Wei Lin

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China)

  • Zhiyong Qi

    (Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China)

Abstract

Peat is a nonrenewable resource that we are using at alarming rates. Development of peat alternative from pruning waste (PW) could be a cost- and environment-friendly way of disposal. Steam explosion (SE) is a commonly used pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, but its impact on the properties of PW as a growing substrate is largely unknown. To address this issue, PW was treated using five SE temperatures (160, 175, 190, 205 and 220 °C) and three retention times (1, 3 and 5 min) and evaluated for key traits of growing substrate. Results indicate that bulk density, total porosity, EC, total carbon, and concentration of phytotoxins including phenol, flavonoid, and alkaloid significantly increased or tended to increase with increasing temperature and/or retention time. A reversed trend was observed for water-holding capacity, pH, content of hemicellulose and lignin, and germination index. Cation exchange capacity and total N showed minimal response to SE. Steam explosion had inconsistent impacts on acid soluble nutrients. Phytotoxicity was a major factor limiting the use of SE-treated PW as growing substrate. Higher pretreatment severity led to higher phytotoxicity but also facilitated subsequent phytotoxicity removal by torrefaction. Pruning waste treated by SE and torrefaction under certain conditions may be used as peat substitute for up to 40% (v/v).

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Yang & Xuejiao Chen & Dongdong Zhang & Hong Wang & Wanlai Zhou & Wei Lin & Zhiyong Qi, 2022. "Steam-Exploded Pruning Waste as Peat Substitute: Physiochemical Properties, Phytotoxicity and Their Implications for Plant Cultivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5328-:d:803612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Hsu, Huan-Chun & Lu, Ke-Miao & Lee, Wen-Jhy & Lin, Ta-Chang, 2011. "Thermal pretreatment of wood (Lauan) block by torrefaction and its influence on the properties of the biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 3012-3021.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hong Wang & Wei Lin & Dongdong Zhang & Rui Yang & Wanlai Zhou & Zhiyong Qi, 2022. "Phytotoxicity of Chemical Compounds from Cinnamomum camphora Pruning Waste in Germination and Plant Cultivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.

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