BIOCHAR AND WOOD DISTILLATE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The extensive use of synthetic products in agriculture poses significant environmental risks, increasing the interest in bio-based products that can mitigate the negative effects of modern agricultural methods. These bio-based products can help restore contaminated soils and improve crop yield and quality. This doctoral thesis examines the use of two byproducts obtained from the pyrolysis of woody biomass for green energy production: biochar (B) and wood distillate (WD). The first two chapters of the thesis deal with the use of B in the remediation of soils contaminated with hydrocarbons. Specifically, Chapter 1 evaluates the effects of B on soils artificially contaminated with gasoline, assessing the impact of B amendment on the germination, yield, and total antioxidant capacity of oat (Avena sativa L.) plants. In Chapter 2, the study progresses by evaluating the effect of B on soils artificially contaminated with crude oil, examining the effects of B amendment on yield and oxidative stress in oat plants. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 evaluate the effects of applying WD as a biostimulant. Chapter 3 investigates foliar applications of WD on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants, assessing yield, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, starch, and mineral content. Chapter 4 examines the effects of adding WD to the nutrient solution in hydroponic cultivation, evaluating both yield and antioxidant content in lettuce leaves and roots. Finally, Chapter 5 investigates the effects of foliar application of WD on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants, analysing its impact on seed yield and various nutritional parameters. This thesis concludes that B can be used to reuse hydrocarbon-contaminated soils for cultivation, while WD can enhance both the yield and nutritional properties of crops.