Impact of Biochar on the Flowering and Growth of Strawberry Varied with Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

The use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural production to stimulate strawberry growth and early flowering may pose food safety and environmental pollution concerns. Therefore, it is imperative to explore safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives. We postulated that biochar could serve as a viable alternative, thus this study investigated the impact of biochar derived from different pyrolysis temperatures (350, 500, and 650 degrees C) on strawberry flowering and growth, along with exploring the potential mechanisms. In this study, the determination of organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrient elements, type, and content of organic compounds in biochar prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures was conducted. Subsequently, the application of biochar to strawberry cultivation in soil was performed to investigate its impact on flowering-related indexes, growth indexes, nutrient content, and physiological parameters of strawberry plants. The findings indicate that the phosphorus (P) and total N contents, pH, and EC of biochar produced at 650 degrees C exhibited higher values compared to other biochars. Conversely, the organic compound types and concentrations as well as boron content were found to be higher in biochar produced at 350 degrees C. Compared with plants without biochar treatment, plants treated with biochar produced at different pyrolysis temperatures had better growth and flowered earlier. Plants treated with biochar produced at 350 degrees C were the earliest to blossom. Strawberry treated with biochar produced at 650 degrees C had the best growth. The concentrations of magnesium (Mg), P, sulfur (S), potassium (K), iron (Fe), sodium (Na), and Boron (B) in strawberry leaves increased significantly in the biochar treatments compared to the control group. After the application of biochar, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in strawberry leaves exhibited a significant increase compared to the control group, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) showed a significant decrease. In summary, biochar exhibits the potential to augment strawberry flowering and growth, thereby presenting a viable alternative to conventional fertilizers.