Abstract
The use of sewage sludge to produce biochar is one of the best alternatives for the final destination of this material, allowing for reuse of nutrients and reducing the dependence on mineral fertilizers. Sewage sludge biochar (SSB) stands out as an enhancer of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. The use of beneficial microorganisms such as Trichoderma spp. in combination with biochar may have a synergistic effect on the development of different plants and needs to be better studied. The SSB was produced from sewage sludge biomass (SS) obtained from the sewage treatment plant (STP) of the Federal District Environmental Sanitation Company (CAESB), Brasilia, DF, Brazil. The SSB was produced in an electric tubular furnace at 500 °C and showed the following characteristics: carbon (19%), nitrogen (2.3%), hydrogen (1.7%), specific surface area (52.5 m2 g-1), pore volume (0.053 ml g-1). An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse to evaluate the synergistic effect of SSB application (0.5% w/w) in combination with T. harzianum (TH) on soybean development. The treatments adopted were: (1) control – autoclaved soil, (2) TH, (3) SSB and (4) SSB + TH. The SSB was applied 15 days before soybean planting and the TH was applied to the soil two times, once at eight days before planting and the other at the time of planting. The SSB resulted in a 200% increase in the number of pods when compared to the exclusive application of T. harzianum. Application of SSB with T. harzianum increased germination by 20%, as well as a 70% increase in fresh and dry soybean mass in relation to the control. The agronomic indices evaluated in this study demonstrated that the use of SSB in conjunction with T. harzianum presents a synergistic effect, allowing for better development of the soybean plants.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.