Abstract

Highly weathered soils have low micronutrient availability and very low efficiency for most soluble fertilizers . In this article the effect of poultry litter biochar-graphene oxide composite (PLB-GO) as a novel adsorbent for copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) was evaluated, as well as its fertilizing effects on plant growth, nutrient use efficiency and soil fertility . In order to do so, poultry litter biochar (PLB) and PLB-GO were produced, characterized and evaluated by isotherm adsorption and kinetics studies regarding their Cu and Zn sorption and desorption properties. Cu and Zn loaded on PLB and PLB-GO as biochar-based fertilizers (BBF) were also evaluated. PLB-GO showed 16.2% and 17.7% higher Cu and Zn adsorption capacity , respectively, than pristine PLB, and in both cases <0.5% of the sorbed metal content was released in water. Plant effects on growth and nutrient uptake were, in general, higher or similar to the results obtained for sulfates . The application of PLB increased Cu availability while PLB-GO increased Zn availability after cultivation, even after increasing nutrient uptake and being little soluble in water. Addition of small amounts (≤0.5%) of GO in biochar has potential to increase its properties to retain micronutrients and enhance the fertilizer use effectiveness in highly weathered soils. • Biochar enrichment with graphene oxide increased metals adsorption from 16.2% to 17.7%. • Copper and zinc adsorbed by graphene oxide-biochar showed low water solubility (<0.5%). • Biochar-based micronutrient fertilizer increased grain production from 8% to 17%. • Biochar-based micronutrient fertilizer showed enhanced efficiency in highly weathered soil.

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