Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42321358›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

High-value biochar from sunflower husk pyrolysis enhances growth and physiological performance of Spirodela polyrhiza.

Julia Osmańska, Szymon Szufa, Zdzislawa Romanowska-Duda, Omar Mohammad, Hilal Unyay, Casey Wozniak, Piotr Piersa, Justyna Czerwińska, Paweł Kazimierski, Panagiotis Regkouzas and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Julia OsmańskaFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
Szymon SzufaFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland. szymon.szufa@p.lodz.pl.
Zdzislawa Romanowska-DudaFaculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Str. Banacha 12/16, 92-237, Lodz, Poland.
Omar MohammadEnergy and Bioproducts Research Institute, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.
Hilal UnyayFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
Casey WozniakFaculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Str. Banacha 12/16, 92-237, Lodz, Poland.
Piotr PiersaFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
Justyna CzerwińskaFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
Paweł KazimierskiAPS-Ekoinnowacje Sp. Z o.o., Stanisława Brzozowskiego 7/12, 93-552, Lodz, Poland.
Panagiotis RegkouzasSchool of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Greece.
Alexandros StefanakisSchool of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Greece.
Bartosz PanekFaculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 213, 90-924, Lodz, Poland.
Jude A OnwudiliEnergy and Bioproducts Research Institute, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.

Funding

Horizon Europe's Maria Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange Program 101086411
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rising populations intensify food demand and place increasing pressure on already degraded soils, driving the need for sustainable, waste-derived fertilizers that can enhance plant growth. This research aimed to assess the potential use of biochar as a soil amendment to support plant growth. The biochar used in this study was produced from sunflower husk and examined in three variants obtained at pyrolysis temperatures of 300, 400, and 500 °C, applied at different dosage levels. Spirodela polyrhiza served as the model plant species. Assessment was based on changes in chlorophyll index, fluorescence, frond number, and overall plant condition. Temperature-dependent changes in biochar properties were further analysed using SEM, FTIR, BET, and GC-MS. The results indicate that the pyrolysis products used in this study did not exhibit toxic effects on Spirodela polyrhiza growth. Instead, all analysed variants showed a generally positive influence on plant development, reflected in a clear stimulatory response. The findings demonstrate that the impact of biochar on plant growth was strongly dependent on both the pyrolysis temperature and the applied dose, with the most favourable outcomes observed for biochar produced at 400-500 °C. Overall, the study identifies sunflower husk as a duckweed growth-stimulating material and supports its further consideration as an environmentally safe, waste-derived fertilizer component.

Indexed as

AraceaeCharcoalHelianthusPyrolysisChlorophyllFertilizersSoilbiocharCharcoalChlorophyllFertilizersSoilBiocharBiochar-fertilizerPyrolysisSpirodela polyrhizaStimulatorSunflower husk

Identifiers

PMID42321358
PMCPMC13554143

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.