Potential Application of Biochar Composite Derived from Rice Straw and Animal Bones to Improve Plant Growth

Um-E-Laila Um-e-Laila,Adnan Hussain,Aisha Nazir,Muhammad Shafiq,Firdaus-E-Bareen Firdaus-e-Bareen

doi:10.3390/su131911104

Abstract

The current study is aimed at deriving biochar (BC) from rice straw (RS-BC) and waste bones (WB-BC), being wasted without adequate return at the expense of environmental degradation. The RS and WB feedstocks were pyrolyzed at 550 °C, and the potential of derived biochar as a slow nutrient releasing soil amendment was examined during the growth of ridge gourd. Proximate analysis of the prepared biochars showed significant improvement in ash content and fixed carbon as compared to their raw biomasses. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of RS-BC and WB-BC displayed a diverse range of functional groups viz. derivatives of cellulose and hydroxylapatite (HA); macro and microporosity; multiple nutrients. Application of RS-BC and WB-BC in potted soil alone and as biochar composite (RS-BC+WB-BC) at 5, 10 and 15% (w/w) and chemical fertilizer (CF) resulted in a significant increase in soil pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and water holding capacity (WHC) in exchange for growth and yield of ridge gourd. However, there were insignificant differences in the growth of plants in response to RS-BC, WB-BC alone and CF with biochar composite at 15% amendment. For giving insignificantly different growth results than CF, the prepared biochar composite showed outstanding potential as an organic fertilizer applicable in agrarian soils to elevate soil properties and yield of agricultural commodities.

Highlights

The production of waste in the form of rice straw and animal waste including bones is on the verge of increasing with increasing demand for rice, chicken and meat in populous countries, such as Pakistan
Pyrolysis is thermal degradation of organic biomass under a restricted supply of oxygen with temperature ranging from 300–600 ◦ C [4]
As a matter of fact, it was reported that the increase in pyrolysis temperature from 300 ◦ C to 600 ◦ C

Summary

Introduction

The production of waste in the form of rice straw and animal waste including bones is on the verge of increasing with increasing demand for rice, chicken and meat in populous countries, such as Pakistan. According to the report of economic survey, Pakistan is ranked second in good quality rice production in the world with 9.76 Mt rice residues, brings out a yield of more than 7 million tons and ranked 10th in the world with respect to the production rate [1]. Production of biochar seems an appropriate way to manage the voluminous quantity of crop residues including rice straw. Residues of many of the commonly cultivated crops such as, rice, etc., are either burnt on-field or used as poor fuels in the remote villages of low-income countries. Pyrolysis is thermal degradation of organic biomass under a restricted supply of oxygen with temperature ranging from 300–600 ◦ C [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion