Effect of nitrogen, location, and harvesting stage on peppermint (Mentha X piperita L.) productivity, oil content, and composition

Peppermint dry weight biomass was higher in Verona (8119 kg/ha) than in Stoneville (6115 kg/ha). Overall both, oil content and yield were higher in bud formation stage than flowering stage. The levels of major essential oil constitutes were (-)-menthol 26 – 30 %, (-)-menthone 14 – 21 %, (+)-menthofuran 5 – 11 %, and eucalyptol 3 – 4 % of total essential oil content at flowering stage. Menthone content and its yield were higher at first cut; however, (+)-menthofuran content and its yield were higher at the second cut at bud formation. Although N fertilizers at rate 80 kg/ha did not affect essential oil content and yield at cut 1, N rate at 80 + 80 kg/ha increased oil yield at cut 2

The Occurrence of Legacy P Soils and Potential Mitigation Practices Using Activated Biochar

The long-term application of manures in watersheds with dense animal production has increased soil phosphorus (P) concentration, exceeding plant and soil assimilative capacities. The P accumulated in soils that are heavily manured and contain excess extractable soil P concentrations is known as legacy P. Runoff and leaching can transport legacy P to ground water and surface water bodies, contributing to water quality impairment and environmental pollution, such as eutrophication. This review article analyzes and discusses current and innovative management practices for soil legacy P. Specifically, we address the use of biochar as an emerging novel technology that reduces P movement and bioavailability in legacy P soils. We illustrate that properties of biochar can be affected by pyrolysis temperature and by various activating chemical compounds and by-products. Our approach consists of engineering biochars, using an activation process on poultry litter feedstock before pyrolysis to enhance the binding or precipitation of legacy P. Finally, this review article describes previous examples of biochar activation and offers new approaches to the production of biochars with enhanced P sorption capabilities

Digital research data from: Magnesium activation affects the properties and phosphate sorption capacity of poultry litter biochar

This is digital research data corresponding to a published manuscript, Magnesium activation affects the properties and phosphate sorption capacity of poultry litter biochar. Biochar 5:64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00263-5. Biochars with a high affinity for phosphorus (P) are promising soil amendments for reducing P in agricultural runoff. Poultry litter (PL) is an abundant biochar feedstock. However, PL-derived biochars are typically high in soluble P and therefore require chemical modification to become effective P sorbents. This study investigated the effect of magnesium (Mg) activation on extractable P (EP) and P sorption capacities of PL-derived biochars. Biochar was produced at 500–900 °C from PL activated with 0–1 M Mg. Three differentially aged PL feedstocks were evaluated (1-, 3–5-, and 7–9-year-old).Funding provided by: U.S. Department of AgricultureCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000199Award Number: Funding provided by: U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000139Award Number:Methods are described in the manuscript https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00263-5