![]() ![]() Increase in plant height 18% for the trial vs control plants Improvement in yield 49% for the trial plantsĪverage weight of tomatoes for the trial plants 105g: 6% more than the controls Trial plants : total weight 6,490g – ripe tomatoes 62 Īfter twenty separate small harvests we had reached the end of the ripening season for our four control and four trial plants.Ĭontrol plants: total weight 4,350g – ripe tomatoes 44 We transplanted them into the sub-plots when they were approximately 20cm tall. We germinated and grew eight Marmande Superprecoce tomato plants indoors in John Innes seed compost at approximately 20✬. We checked periodically to make sure the mixture remained moist during the inoculation, so nothing further was added. In our tomato trial we used a 14 day inoculation period, leaving the biochar-compost mixture covered for the period. The biochar was then in small pieces (ca <1/2″ or 12mm) together with powdered material.įor growing plants we conditioned this biochar by mixing with moist homegrown garden compost in a 1:9 by volume ratio. We extracted the maker from the fire and quenched it with cold water until the container was cool to touch. A fire of dried wood gave us the heat source for the charcoal maker and we continued until all off gassing had ceased, about 2.5 hours. ![]() We made biochar by charring short lengths of round wood in a small charcoal maker. At 75% of the harvest taken the yield in weight of the trial plots is ca 50% more than the control plots. We monitored the harvest carefully recording and weighing each tomato. Once the fruit began to form we measured the number of tomatoes greater than 25mm diameter from time to time during the growing season. We used no chemicals other than tomato feed on the plants during the trial.ĭuring the trial we measured the heights of the plants from soil level to tip of main stem. When they exceeded the height of the walls, we did not use a covering.Ī regime of watering and later feeding all sub-plots together ensured they all experienced the same conditions. The plants grew very well under these conditions. We removed the top during most days and replaced it overnight. The bed had a polycarbonate screen around all four sides and initially a top from the same material. This arrangement attempted to control for light and shelter effects. ![]() The trial sub-plots were diagonally adjacent and filled with the biochar-compost mixture described below. The two control sub-plots were diagonally adjacent and filled with compost. We divided the bed into four equal sub-plots, two for control plants and two for the trial. We have completed a small trial growing Marmande Superprecoce tomatoes in a raised bed 1m by 1.5 m. ![]()
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January 2023
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