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Peat is the most common substrate used in nurseries despite being a very expensive and a non-renewable material. Peat replacement with biochar could be a sound environmental practice, as it is produced from waste biomass, but evaluation of biochar as a potting substrate is needed. Ratios of peat:biochar of 100:0, 70:30, 30:70 (BC 0 , BC 30 , and BC 70 , respectively), two fertilizer rates (FERT 1 , FERT 2 ), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation were tested on potted  Pelargonium  plants. Plant growth, flowering, bio-physiological and nutritional responses, and root mycorrhization were evaluated. The BC 30  mixture did not affect plant growth compared with pure peat. However, BC 30  in combination with FERT 2  treatment was more effective in enhancing nitrogen (N) and chlorophyll (CHL) leaf concentrations, and leaf and flower numbers. The BC 70  mixture depressed plant growth, flowering traits, and root mycorrhization. Leaf N concentration was below the sufficiency range reported for  Pelargonium  growth. Leaf concentration of phosphorous (P) was adequate in pure peat and in BC 30  but it dropped close to sub-optimal values in BC 70 . The pH value of the mixtures lowered P availability, though in BC 30  the mycorrhizal activity could have allowed adequate P plant uptake. In BC 70  plants, the deficiency of both N and P might be a reason for the observed growth reduction. The inoculation of the substrate with selected AMF improved plant growth (higher dry biomass, greater floral clusters, larger and more abundant leaves) and quality resulting in unstressed (lower electrolyte leakage and higher relative water content values) and greener leaves (low L ∗  and C ∗ , high CHL content) and in more intensely colored flowers. We conclude that biochar can be applied in nursery/potted plant production provided that the proportion in the peat mixture does not exceed 30%. Furthermore, AMF inoculation contributed to achieving the best plant performance in 30% biochar amended medium.

Influence of biochar, mycorrhizal inoculation, and fertilizer rate on growth and flowering of Pelargonium (Pelargonium zonale L.) plants