The potentials of biochar from agricultural waste as a carrier material of biofertilizer for swamplands

Abstract

Biochar has pores suitable for microbial habitat, and it contains carbon which can be used as an energy source by microbes. The research aims to determine the potential of some biochar as a carrier of biological fertilizer for swamplands. The treatment given was the type of biochar (rice husk, coconut shell, and palm empty fruit bunches) and the microbial type ie decomposer, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), N Fixing Bacteria, and a consortium microbial. The design used was a Factorial Complete Randomized Design, 3 replications. Biochar analysis included organic C, total N, pH, CEC, SiO2, ash content and water content. Calculation of microbial populations was done at 2, 6 and 10 weeks after inoculation. Biochar rice husks, oil palm empty fruit bunches and coconut shells were very effective as decomposer carrier material. The highest of population of N-fixing bacteria and PSB at 6 weeks after inoculation was in the biochar rice husk reached 0.33 x 106 cfu/g for N-fixing bacteria and 54.8 x 106 cfu/g for P solvent bacterial. Rice husk biochar can be used as a carrier material both for a single biofertilizer, as well as a consortium biofertilizer that consists of decomposer fungi, P solubilizing bacteria and N-fixing bacteria.