Jiang, et al (2024) Study on the optimal water−biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More management mode based on pan evaporation for solar greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) in Northeast China. Agricultural Water Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109014

Biochar has gained attention as a powerful tool for soil enhancement, particularly in solar greenhouse agriculture where continuous cropping degrades soil. A recent study explored the ideal combination of water and biochar for improving tomato production in Northeast China’s greenhouses. The researchers examined different biochar and irrigation levels based on a 20 cm evaporation pan (Ep-20), a tool commonly used to measure water loss due to evaporation.

The experiment revealed that biochar effectively improved soil properties, such as reducing bulk density and increasing field capacity, which led to taller plants and better photosynthesis. Different irrigation levels impacted tomato appearance and nutritional quality. While more water improved appearance, it slightly reduced nutritional value. However, biochar consistently enhanced both appearance and nutritional quality.

Through advanced analyses like principal component analysis (PCA) and grey relational analysis (GRA), the study identified the optimal combination of moderate irrigation (0.8 Ep-20) and high biochar application (40 tons per hectare). This combination (W2B2) increased tomato yield by 18% and irrigation water productivity by 47.5%, while reducing water use by 20% compared to conventional methods.

The study demonstrates that integrating biochar with carefully managed irrigation can significantly enhance greenhouse tomato production, achieving higher yields and better quality with more sustainable water use. The Ep-20 tool proves effective in guiding irrigation decisions, offering a practical solution for optimizing crop management in resource-limited environments.