Novel K-enriched organomineral fertilizer from sewage sludge-biochar: Chemical, physical and mineralogical characterization.

Abstract

Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) is a multi-nutrient fertilizer with very low K concentration. This study presents a novel K-enriched SSB fertilizer with the potential to increase K use efficiency by crops. The object of this work was therefore to evaluate the physical-chemical, morphological and mineralogical characteristics of a SSB organomineral fertilizer (OSSB) enriched with K. SSB was enriched with KCl and K2SO4 using three technological methods (granules, pellets and powders). The enrichment of SSB with K ensured a K2O content about 75 times higher than the pure SSB. Organominerals in powder form had higher levels of total nitrogen, calcium, sulfur, phosphorus and higher pH than granules and pellets. The morphology and physical characteristics of enriched OSSBs were more influenced by the form of the fertilizer than by the source of K. In general, the enriched OSSBs are influenced by the quantities of feedstocks and the enrichment technology.