Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Response of maize germination and growth to hydrothermal carbonization filtrate type and amount

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aims

The option of using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) filtrate as a liquid based fertilizer for agricultural crop production was evaluated through germination and plant growth studies using corn (Zea Mays L.).

Methods

Corn growth trials were conducted in a growth chamber with artificial lighting and controlled temperature programming in washed silica sand amended with condensed distillers soluble (CDS), swine manure, or poultry litter HTC filtrates. Seedling growth trials were conducted over a period of 3 weeks and evaluated for overall plant height, above ground biomass, below ground biomass, and total biomass in response to various filtrate applications. Impacts on germination were studied by quantifying germination time and of corn seeds in response to various amounts of condensed distillers solubles (CDS) and swine HTC filtrates.

Results

Inhibitory effects on corn seed germination and seedling growth were dependent on HTC filtrate type and application amount, where at dilutions greater than 1:2 (filtrate : total volume) corn germination was not inhibited and swine based filtrate extending the seed germination delay (lag phase). Low filtrate applications were statistically equal to control responses.

Conclusions

These results suggest a potential opportunity for utilization of HTC filtrates as an agricultural liquid fertilizer, thereby recycling critical plant nutrients, once inhibitory compounds are treated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

HTC:

Hydrothermal carbonization

P:

Phosphorous

MGT:

Mean germination time

References

  • Anastasakis K, Ross AB (2011) Hydrothermal liquefaction of the brown macro-alga Laminaria saccharina: effect of reaction conditions on product distribution and composition. Biores Tech 102:4876–4883

  • Bagnoud-Velásquez M, Brandenberger M, Vogel F, Ludwig C (2014) Continuous catalytic hydrothermal gasification of algal biomass and case study on toxicity of aluminum as a step toward effluents recycling. Catal Today 223:35–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann I, Rillig MC, Buss W, Kruse A, Kuecke M (2013) Hydrochar and biochar effects on germination of spring barley. J Agron Crop Sci 199:360–373. doi:10.1111/jac.12024

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann I, Rillig MC, Kruse A, Greef JM, Kücke M (2014) Initial and subsequent effects of hydrochar amendment on germination and nitrogen uptake of spring barley. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 177:68–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker R, Dorgerloh U, Paulke E, Mumme J, Nehls I (2014) Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass: major organic components of the aqueous phase. Chem Eng Technol 37:511–518

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biller P et al (2012) Nutrient recycling of aqueous phase for microalgae cultivation from the hydrothermal liquefaction process. Algal Res 1:70–76. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2012.02.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradow J, Connick W Jr (1990) Volatile seed germination inhibitors from plant residues. J Chem Ecol 16:645–666. doi:10.1007/BF01016477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Busch D, Kammann C, Grunhage L, Muller C (2012) Simple biotoxicity tests for evaluation of carbonaceous soil additives: establishment and reproducibility of four test procedures. J Environ Qual 41:1023–1032. doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Busch D, Stark A, Kammann CI, Glaser B (2013) Genotoxic and phytotoxic risk assessment of fresh and treated hydrochar from hydrothermal carbonization compared to biochar from pyrolysis. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 97:59–66. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.07.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chan K, Van Zwieten L, Meszaros I, Downie A, Joseph S (2008) Agronomic values of greenwaste biochar as a soil amendment. Soil Res 45:629–634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang CW (1967) Study of phytase and fluoride effects in germinating corn seeds. Cereal Chem 44:2–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang SM, Sung JM (1998) Deteriorative changes in primed sweet corn seeds during storage. Seed Sci Technol 26:613–625

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins DG, Parks WL (1961) The germination of corn and wheat as affected by various fertilizer salts at different soil temperatures. Soil Sci Soc Am J 25:47–49. doi:10.2136/sssaj1961.03615995002500010022x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eibisch N, Helfrich M, Don A, Mikutta R, Kruse A, Ellerbrock R, Flessa H (2013) Properties and degradability of hydrothermal carbonization products. J Env Qual 42:1565–1573

  • Eno CF, Blue WG (1957) The comparative rate of nitrification of anhydrous ammonia, urea, and ammonium sulfate in sandy soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 21:392–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • George C, Wagner M, Kücke M, Rillig MC (2012) Divergent consequences of hydrochar in the plant–soil system: arbuscular mycorrhiza, nodulation, plant growth and soil aggregation effects. Appl Soil Ecol 59:68–72. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.02.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heilmann SM et al (2010) Hydrothermal carbonization of microalgae. Biomass Bioenergy 34:875–882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hognon C, Delrue F, Texier J, Grateau M, Thiery S, Miller H, Roubaud A (2015) Comparison of pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Growth studies on the recovered hydrothermal aqueous phase. Biomass Bioenergy 73:23–31. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.11.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jena U, Das K, Kastner J (2011) Effect of operating conditions of thermochemical liquefaction on biocrude production from Spirulina platensis. Biores Tech 102:6221–6229

  • Kahm M, Hasenbrink G, Lichtenberg-Frate H, Ludwig J, Kschischo M (2010) Grofit: fitting biological growth curves with R. J Stat Softw 33:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Känkänen H, Kangas A, Mela T (2008) Timing incorporation of different green manure crops to minimize the risk of nitrogen leaching. Agric Food Sci 7:553–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahti T, Kuikman P (2003) The effect of delaying autumn incorporation of green manure crop on N mineralization and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 65:265–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levine RB, Bollas A, Savage PE (2013) Process improvements for the supercritical in situ transesterification of carbonized algal biomass. Biores Tech 136:556–564

  • Libra JA et al (2011) Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass residuals: a comparative review of the chemistry, processes and applications of wet and dry pyrolysis. Biofuels 2:71–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin D, Xing B (2007) Phytotoxicity of nanoparticles: Inhibition of seed germination and root growth. Environ Pollut 150:243–250. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.01.016

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin V, McCoy E, Dick WA (1990) Allelopathy of crop residues influences corn seed germination and early growth. Agron J 82:555–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendiburu Fd (2014) agricolae: Statistical procedures for agricultural research. http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=agricolae, R package version 1.2-1

  • Miller MH (1962) The inhibitory influence of water extracts of three organic materials on soybean germination and growth in soil and sand cultures. Can J Plant Sci 42:262–269. doi:10.4141/cjps62-038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakhshiniev B, Biddinika MK, Gonzales HB, Sumida H, Yoshikawa K (2014) Evaluation of hydrothermal treatment in enhancing rice straw compost stability and maturity. Bioresour Technol 151:306–313

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DC, Flematti GR, Ghisalberti EL, Dixon KW, Smith SM (2012) Regulation of seed germination and seedling growth by chemical signals from burning vegetation. Plant Biol 63

  • Patrick ZA, Koch LW (1958) Inhibition of respiration, germination, and growth by substances arising during the decomposition of certain plant residues in the soil. Can J Bot 36:621–647. doi:10.1139/b58-058

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pignatello J (2013) Role of Natural Organic Matter as Sorption Suppressant in Soil. In: Xu J, Wu J, He Y (eds) Functions of Natural Organic Matter in Changing Environment. Springer, Netherlands, pp 501–504. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5634-2_91

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Poerschmann J, Weiner B, Wedwitschka H, Baskyr I, Koehler R, Kopinke F-D (2014) Characterization of biocoals and dissolved organic matter phases obtained upon hydrothermal carbonization of brewer’s spent grain. Bioresour Technol 164:162–169

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2010) R: A language and environment for statical computing. Vienna, Austria

  • Richards FJ (1959) A flexible growth function for empirical use. J Exp Bot 10:290–301. doi:10.1093/jxb/10.2.290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rillig MC et al (2010) Material derived from hydrothermal carbonization: effects on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhiza. Appl Soil Ecol 45:238–242. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2010.04.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogovska N, Laird D, Cruse R, Trabue S, Heaton E (2012) Germination tests for assessing biochar quality. J Environ Qual 41:1014–1022

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stemann J, Putschew A, Ziegler F (2013) Hydrothermal carbonization: process water characterization and effects of water recirculation. Biores Tech 143:139–146

  • Strong L, Gould T, Kasinkas L, Sadowsky M, Aksan A, Wackett L (2014) Biodegradation in waters from hydraulic fracturing: chemistry, microbiology, and engineering. J Environ Eng 140:B4013001. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Titirici M-M, Antonietti M, Baccile N (2008) Hydrothermal carbon from biomass: a comparison of the local structure from poly-to monosaccharides and pentoses/hexoses. Green Chem 10:1204–1212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn SF, Boydston RA (1997) Volatile allelochemicals released by crucifer green manures. J Chem Ecol 23:2107–2116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams RD, Hoagland RE (1982) The effects of naturally occurring phenolic compounds on seed germination .Weed Sci 206–212

  • XiaoHan S, Sumida H, Yoshikawa K (2014) Effects of liquid fertilizer produced from sewage sludge by the hydrothermal process on the growth of Komatsuna. Br J Environ Clim Chang 4:261–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Compliance with ethical standards

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the grants received from the Institute on Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE), University of Minnesota-Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Minnesota’s Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and the Minnesota Corn Growers for partial funding of this research.

Conflict of Interest

All of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research

This research did not involve research on human subjects or animals.

Disclaimer

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Agricultural Research Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN, 55108-1041, USA

    Georgiy V. Vozhdayev, Joseph S. Molde, Steven M. Heilmann, Brandon M. Wood & Kenneth J. Valentas

  2. United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, 439 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Kurt A. Spokas

  3. Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, 439 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Kurt A. Spokas

  4. University of California Berkeley, College of Engineering - Applied Science and Technology, 210 Hearst Memorial Mining Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Brandon M. Wood

Authors
  1. Georgiy V. Vozhdayev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kurt A. Spokas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph S. Molde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Steven M. Heilmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Brandon M. Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kenneth J. Valentas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kurt A. Spokas.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Simon Jeffery.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 122 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vozhdayev, G.V., Spokas, K.A., Molde, J.S. et al. Response of maize germination and growth to hydrothermal carbonization filtrate type and amount. Plant Soil 396, 127–136 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2577-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2577-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation