Abstract
Growers have been searching for alternative horticultural growing media components because of their desire to use sustainable resources. Biochar is a carbon-based material that has been evaluated for use as an alternative aggregate in peat-based soilless substrates. Additionally, silicon (Si) has been examined as a beneficial element to promote plant growth and plant quality in a variety of crops. However, there has been limited research regarding the interaction of biochar as an aggregate and Si in soilless substrates. This study aimed to determine the impact of Si and biochar on plant growth and nutrient uptake for greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.). Hemp plants were grown in one of 12 different substrate blends: with two rates of calcium silicate (CaSiO 3 ), two aggregate types of biochar (medium or coarse) or perlite, and aggregate percentages of 85% peat + 15% aggregate and 70% peat + 30% aggregate. The cannabinoid concentration, plant height, diameter, or total plant biomass were similar across all substrate blends after 12 weeks of growth. Additionally, the use of CaSiO 3 as a Si substrate amendment increased Si foliar concentrations, and the addition of biochar to peat-based mixes did not limit the Si availability for plant uptake. However, Si substrate amendments did not impact plant height, diameter, or total plant biomass. This suggests that the biochar tested during this study is suitable in peat-based substrates for C. sativa ‘BaOx’ production at rates up to 30% (by volume) in peat-based substrates with CaSiO 3 amendments.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Cannabinoid concentration was similar across the substrate blends after 12 weeks of growth.
- Taxon
- Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativae0 - Treatment
- substrate blendse1
- Outcome
- cannabinoid concentratione1
- Direction
- similare1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.)”
e1“The cannabinoid concentration, plant height, diameter, or total plant biomass were similar across all substrate blends after 12 weeks of growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant height, diameter and total plant biomass were similar across the substrate blends after 12 weeks of growth.
- Taxon
- Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativae0 - Treatment
- substrate blendse1
- Outcome
- plant height, diameter, or total plant biomasse1
- Direction
- similare1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.)”
e1“The cannabinoid concentration, plant height, diameter, or total plant biomass were similar across all substrate blends after 12 weeks of growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Use of CaSiO3 as a Si substrate amendment increased Si foliar concentrations.
- Taxon
- Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativae0 - Treatment
- the use of CaSiO 3 as a Si substrate amendmente2
- Outcome
- Si foliar concentrationse2
- Direction
- increasede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.)”
e2“the use of CaSiO 3 as a Si substrate amendment increased Si foliar concentrations”
Claim · model-written summary
Addition of biochar to peat-based mixes did not limit Si availability for plant uptake.
- Taxon
- Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativae0 - Treatment
- the addition of biochar to peat-based mixese3
- Outcome
- Si availability for plant uptakee3
- Direction
- did not limite3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.)”
e3“the addition of biochar to peat-based mixes did not limit the Si availability for plant uptake”
Claim · model-written summary
Si substrate amendments did not affect plant height, diameter or total plant biomass.
- Taxon
- Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativae0 - Treatment
- Si substrate amendmentse4
- Outcome
- plant height, diameter, or total plant biomasse4
- Direction
- did not impacte4
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“greenhouse-cultivated hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.)”
e4“Si substrate amendments did not impact plant height, diameter, or total plant biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
The biochar tested is suitable in peat-based substrates for C. sativa production at rates up to 30% by volume.
- Taxon
- C. sativa
Cannabis sativae5 - Outcome
- suitable in peat-based substratese5
- Qualifier
- at rates up to 30% (by volume)e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e5“the biochar tested during this study is suitable in peat-based substrates for C. sativa ‘BaOx’ production at rates up to 30% (by volume)”
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.