Acacia crassicarpa is a legume species that is known to fix atmospheric nitrogen
with rhizobia (nodule bacteria). In addition, WSL-MTI has found that mycorrhizal
fungi are also symbiotic, but this topic is not addressed here. Peatlands are extremely
nutrient-poor, as described in Chap. 1. Therefore, nitrogen fixation is also known to
play an essential role in peatlands (Yanbuaban et al. 2007). WSL-MTI introduced a
technology known in Japan as “tadon,” which is a hardened scrap of woody charcoal
produced during charcoal production and used as a household fuel in the past
(Fig. 7.9). Charcoal (biochar) is alkaline, and in addition, it is a porous substance
that is excellent at retaining water and oxygen and good for the matrix of microorganisms. Therefore, tadon, which is composed of charcoal, is expected to play a role
in helping root growth and encouraging symbiosis between plants and various
symbiotic microbes (Ogawa and Okimori 2010; Yamato et al. 2006). In particular,
tadon (a kind of biochar with some bioactive compounds added) is expected to
activate rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, since charcoal contributes to
carbon sequestration in peat soil, its usage in plantations contributes to carbon
storage (Fig. 7.24).
Tadon succeeded in activating rhizobia and promoting the growth of lateral roots,
which function in nutrient absorption. As shown in Fig. 7.25, the results have so far
Fig. 7.24 Tadon (left) and its application in the field (right)
Fig. 7.25 The difference in lateral root nodulation between (a) the control (without tadon) and (b)
the tadon treatment
7 Principles of AeroHydro Culture
279
with rhizobia (nodule bacteria). In addition, WSL-MTI has found that mycorrhizal
fungi are also symbiotic, but this topic is not addressed here. Peatlands are extremely
nutrient-poor, as described in Chap. 1. Therefore, nitrogen fixation is also known to
play an essential role in peatlands (Yanbuaban et al. 2007). WSL-MTI introduced a
technology known in Japan as “tadon,” which is a hardened scrap of woody charcoal
produced during charcoal production and used as a household fuel in the past
(Fig. 7.9). Charcoal (biochar) is alkaline, and in addition, it is a porous substance
that is excellent at retaining water and oxygen and good for the matrix of microorganisms. Therefore, tadon, which is composed of charcoal, is expected to play a role
in helping root growth and encouraging symbiosis between plants and various
symbiotic microbes (Ogawa and Okimori 2010; Yamato et al. 2006). In particular,
tadon (a kind of biochar with some bioactive compounds added) is expected to
activate rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, since charcoal contributes to
carbon sequestration in peat soil, its usage in plantations contributes to carbon
storage (Fig. 7.24).
Tadon succeeded in activating rhizobia and promoting the growth of lateral roots,
which function in nutrient absorption. As shown in Fig. 7.25, the results have so far
Fig. 7.24 Tadon (left) and its application in the field (right)
Fig. 7.25 The difference in lateral root nodulation between (a) the control (without tadon) and (b)
the tadon treatment
7 Principles of AeroHydro Culture
279