Effect of Foliar Application of Process Water from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugar-Energy Byproducts on Tomato Plant Growth and Chlorophyll Content
- 1Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) , , 2265 Cristovao Colombo St. , , ,
- 2State University of Londrina (UEL) , , Celso Garcia Cid Highway, PR 445, Km 380 , ,
Abstract
Process water (PW) from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of agro-industrial residues is rich in carbon and nutrients yet underexplored as a foliar fertilizer. Two PWs from HTC of sugar cane bagasse and vinasse using H3PO4 (PWA) and KOH (PWB) were employed as foliar treatments (at 50, 100, and 300 mg TOC L–1) with/without commercial fertilizer (CF) on tomato growth. PWA exhibited greater hydrophobicity, whereas PWB was more hydrophilic and richer in organic compounds. Plant growth and chlorophyll responses were strongly dose-dependent, with phytotoxicity observed at higher TOC levels (300 mg TOC L–1), whereas 100 mg TOC L–1 yielded optimal biostimulatory effects. PWB at 100 mg TOC L–1 with CF produced the largest growth response, increasing shoot length by up to 29% relative to the commercial fertilizer control. PWA at the same concentration with CF increased shoot length by 11% compared to the commercial fertilizer control. Relative to distilled water and fertilizer controls, chlorophyll content increased by 60% and 49% with PWA (at 100 mg TOC L–1), and by 11% and 9% with PWB, respectively. These results indicate that foliar application of PW at 100 mg TOC L–1 is promising as a foliar fertilizer supplement to stimulate chlorophyll production and tomato plant growth.
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BibTeX
@article{mondek2026effect,
title = {{Effect of Foliar Application of Process Water from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugar-Energy Byproducts on Tomato Plant Growth and Chlorophyll Content}},
author = {Suelen A. Mondek and Gabriela A. Nogueira and Isabela C. Constantino and Odair P. Ferreira and Márcia C. Bisinoti and Altair B. Moreira},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c06470},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c06470/5461236/Effect-of-Foliar-Application-of-Process-Water-from},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effect of Foliar Application of Process Water from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugar-Energy Byproducts on Tomato Plant Growth and Chlorophyll Content
AU - Suelen A. Mondek
AU - Gabriela A. Nogueira
AU - Isabela C. Constantino
AU - Odair P. Ferreira
AU - Márcia C. Bisinoti
AU - Altair B. Moreira
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c06470
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c06470/5461236/Effect-of-Foliar-Application-of-Process-Water-from
AB - Process water (PW) from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of agro-industrial residues is rich in carbon and nutrients yet underexplored as a foliar fertilizer. Two PWs from HTC of sugar cane bagasse and vinasse using H3PO4 (PWA) and KOH (PWB) were employed as foliar treatments (at 50, 100, and 300 mg TOC L–1) with/without commercial fertilizer (CF) on tomato growth. PWA exhibited greater hydrophobicity, whereas PWB was more hydrophilic and richer in organic compounds. Plant growth and chlorophyll responses were strongly dose-dependent, with phytotoxicity observed at higher TOC levels (300 mg TOC L–1), whereas 100 mg TOC L–1 yielded optimal biostimulatory effects. PWB at 100 mg TOC L–1 with CF produced the largest growth response, increasing shoot length by up to 29% relative to the commercial fertilizer control. PWA at the same concentration with CF increased shoot length by 11% compared to the commercial fertilizer control. Relative to distilled water and fertilizer controls, chlorophyll content increased by 60% and 49% with PWA (at 100 mg TOC L–1), and by 11% and 9% with PWB, respectively. These results indicate that foliar application of PW at 100 mg TOC L–1 is promising as a foliar fertilizer supplement to stimulate chlorophyll production and tomato plant growth.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -