Abstract
This work aimed to characterize the biochar produced from residues of coconut fruit and to evaluate how it might beneficially alter the retention capacity of water and nutrients in soils with a sandy texture. The biochar was produced in a retort furnace and later analyzed to determine its chemical and physical characteristics. Experiments to analyze the retention potential of the biochar for water and nutrients were performed in PVC columns filled to a 400 mm depth, with the upper 300 mm receiving treatments that consisted of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% (p p-1) biochar mixed with soil. For the nutrient retention experiment, in addition to the biochar concentrations, the treatments received the same NPK fertilization. The experiments were performed in a completely randomized design with four replications. The water retention in the upper 300 mm, as well as the pH, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) of the substrate, base saturation, and concentrations of P and K, increased with increasing biochar concentration. Coconut biochar demonstrated potential for increasing water retention and improving nutrient retention in sandy soils.
Highlights
The consumption of coconut water (Cocus nucifera L.) and pulp generates a significant amount of residues, represented by the husks
The pyrolysis of coconut fruits resulted in a gravimetric yield of approximately 1/3 of the raw material weight (36.28 ±1.33%) and a low bulk density (220.00 ± 0.01 kg m-3)
The influence of organic functional groups on pH decreases with increases in pyrolysis temperature due to thermal decomposition, whereas the formation of carbonates and alkaline metals is favored by temperatures above 500°C (Yuan, Xu, & Zhang, 2011)
Summary
The consumption of coconut water (Cocus nucifera L.) and pulp generates a significant amount of residues, represented by the husks This material is discarded in landfills and dumping grounds, acting, similar to all organic matter, as a potential gas emitter; such material contributes to a reduction of the useful life of these deposits, proliferation of the foci of disease-transmitting vectors, foul odors, possible contamination of soil and water bodies, and the inevitable destruction of the urban landscape. These characteristics are prevalent in sandy soils, characteristic of the new agricultural frontiers of the country
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