BIO-SAND: Agricultura de precisión para la evaluación del biocarbón en suelos arenosos de baja fertilidad bajo condiciones de invernadero

This research evaluates the effect of biochar applied to a sandy soil under controlled irrigation in the cultivation of ornamental plants grown in greenhouse conditions. The experiment will be conducted using a completely randomized design with 60 pots distributed across three treatments, allowing for precise identification of the variations attributable to biochar in the physico-chemical properties of the soil and in the crop’s physiological response. The incorporation of biochar is considered a practice with potential to modify key characteristics of sandy soils, particularly their low water retention capacity, limited cation exchange capacity, and high susceptibility to nutrient leaching.
To characterize the soil–plant–water system, precision agriculture tools will be integrated, including soil moisture sensors, physiological measurements of the crop, periodic physico-chemical analyses of the soil, and multispectral imaging aimed at assessing plant vigor and potential stress conditions. This combination will document the hydrological and nutritional dynamics under each treatment, as well as associated changes in plant development.
The greenhouse will operate with an IoT-based system for automation and monitoring, built on previously validated platforms for tracking environmental variables and estimating irrigation requirements in biochar-amended soils. This system will record real-time parameters such as soil moisture, temperature, radiation, and internal greenhouse conditions, enabling more consistent irrigation operation and detailed documentation of the interaction between biochar and the irrigation regime applied.
The study is expected to generate robust information on the effect of biochar on moisture retention, selected indicators of soil fertility, crop physiological performance, and water-use efficiency under the controlled conditions of the experiment. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of biochar behavior in low-fertility sandy soils and provide useful technical insights for managing these soils in protected agriculture systems in Costa Rica.

Evaluar el impacto del biocarbón producido a partir de biomasa local, mediante su aplicación en cultivo hortícola bajo condiciones de invernadero, para la mejora de la retención hídrica y la fertilidad del suelo.

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