Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical process to convert biomass in carbon-rich materials (hydrochar). The use of sugarcane industry by-products in HTC has been evaluated, generating a hydrochar rich in nutrients, which could be used as a soil conditioner. We raised the hypothesis that the application of hydrochar in soil can improve its nutrient characteristics, bringing a better environment and favouring plant growth, expecting a development similar to that one observed in anthropogenic soils. Germination studies were performed expecting a species-dependent response, using maize and tomato seeds, whose development was assessed in two soluble fractions obtained from hydrochar aiming to evaluate different rhizosphere conditions. The results showed a better development of maize, especially in the aqueous soluble fraction, whose nutrient concentration was lower than that of the acid soluble fraction, as well as the organic composition. Maize growth in soils showed a better initial development in ultisol compared to oxisol, this being inferred by root:shoot biomass ratio and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. However, the development of maize was better in anthropogenic soil compared to soils that received hydrochar. The maize growth, compared with that carried out in anthropogenic soil, suggests that during the period evaluated the addition of hydrochar in soil did not have a negative effect upon maize development in its initial phase, and could have even favoured rooting in ultisol.

中文翻译：

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甘蔗业副产品中的糖炭：通过玉米的发芽和生长评估其作为土壤改良剂的潜在用途

水热碳化（HTC）是一种热化学过程，可将生物质转化为富含碳的材料（碳氢化合物）。已评估了HTC中甘蔗行业副产品的使用，产生了富含营养成分的水炭，可用作土壤改良剂。我们提出了这样的假设，即在土壤中施用水炭可以改善其养分特性，带来更好的环境并有利于植物生长，并期望其发展类似于在人为土壤中观察到的发展。使用玉米和番茄种子进行了发芽研究，期望得到依赖于物种的响应，并通过从水焦中获得的两个可溶性级分评估了它们的发育，旨在评估不同的根际条件。结果表明，玉米的发育更好，尤其是在水溶性部分中，营养成分浓度低于酸溶级分和有机成分。玉米在土壤中的生长表现出比奥索洛尔更好的初始生长，这是由根：茎生物量比和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）图像推断的。然而，与接受水炭的土壤相比，人为土壤中的玉米生长更好。与在人为土壤中进行的玉米生长相比，这表明在所评估的时期内，在土壤中添加水炭对玉米的初始生长没有不利影响，甚至可能有利于在ultisol中生根。玉米在土壤中的生长表现出比奥索洛尔更好的初始生长，这是由根：茎生物量比和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）图像推断的。然而，与接受水炭的土壤相比，人为土壤中的玉米生长更好。与在人为土壤中进行的玉米生长相比，这表明在所评估的时期内，在土壤中添加水炭对玉米的初始生长没有不利影响，甚至可能有利于在ultisol中生根。玉米在土壤中的生长表现出比奥索洛尔更好的初始生长，这是由根：茎生物量比和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）图像推断的。然而，与接受水炭的土壤相比，人为土壤中的玉米生长更好。与在人为土壤中进行的玉米生长相比，这表明在所评估的时期内，在土壤中添加水炭对玉米的初始生长没有不利影响，甚至可能有利于在ultisol中生根。