Biochar as a Possible New Alternative in the Propagation Medium of Olive Cuttings

Within the framework of using organic waste in line with sustainable development, which helps reduce carbon emissions and overcoming pollution resulting from burning these wastes while also lowering reducing cost of purchasing peat-moss imported from abroad, this investigation aimed to study the possibility of using biochar as a good alternative to peat-moss in the olive propagation medium, which helps in achieving the previous goals. Therefore, during 2021 and 2022 seasons, cuttings of Coratina, Manzanillo and Picual cultivars were used to find out the success of their propagation was in biochar media. Where 5 ratios of biochar to sand were used to achieve the following ratios, which are 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6 and 1:7. In addition to the use of compost-sand in a ratio of 1: 7 and peat-sand in ratio 1:3 as a control medium.
The results indicated that the media containing biochar-sand at a ratio of 1:5 achieved results similar or close to those achieved with the comparison treatments for all root growth and then vegetative growth characteristics. In terms of leaf nutrient content, biochar treatments, particularly at high rates,, showed superiority in leaves K and Ca content, while the use of biochar-sand at a rate of 1:4 to 1:6 in addition to the comparison treatment containing peat resulted in highest content of P, while the maximum carbohydrate content and C/N ratio were also achieved when using the media containing biochar-sand at a ratio of 1:3 to 1:6, which was equal to that achieved by the control containing peat.