Gezahegn, A and Selassie, Y G and Agegnehu, G and Addisu, S and Mihretie, F A and Kohira, Y and Lewoyehu, M and Sato, S (2024) The impact of water hyacinth biochar on maize growth and soil properties: The influence of pyrolysis temperature. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 3 (3). pp. 1-15. ISSN 2767-035X
![[img]](http://oar.icrisat.org/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
PDF
- Published Version
Available under License ["licenses_description_cc_attribution" not defined]. Download (3MB) |
Abstract
Introduction: Options for managing water hyacinths (WHs) include converting the biomass into biochar for soil amendment. However, less has been known about the impact of WH‐based biochar developed in varying pyrolysis temperatures on plant growth and soil qualities. Materials and Methods: A pot experiment was undertaken in a factorial combination of WH biochars (WHBs) developed at three temperatures (350°C, 550°C and 750°C) and two application rates (5 and 20 t ha−1), plus a control without biochar. Maize was grown as a test crop for 2 months under natural conditions. Results: Our study showed that applying WHB developed between 350°C and 750°C at 20 t ha−1 increased maize shoot and root dry biomass by 47.7% to 17.6% and 78.4% to 54.1%, respectively. Nevertheless, raising the biochar pyrolysis temperature decreased maize growth, whereas increasing the application rate displayed a positive effect. The application of WHB generated at 350°C and 550°C at 20 t ha−1 resulted in significant improvements in soil total nitrogen (17.9% to 25%), cation exchange capacity (27.3% to 20.2%), and ammonium‐nitrogen (60.7% to 59.6%), respectively, over the control. Additionally, applying WHB produced from 350°C to 750°C at 20 t ha−1 enhanced soil carbon by 38.5%–56.3%, compared to the control. Conversely, applying biochar produced at 750°C resulted in higher soil pH (6.3 ± 0.103), electrical conductivity (0.23 ± 0.01 dSm−1) and available phosphorus (21.8 ± 2.53 mg kg−1). Conclusion: WHBs developed at temperatures of 350°C and 550°C with an application rate of 20 t ha−1 were found to be optimal for growing maize and improving soil characteristics. Our study concludes that pyrolysis temperature significantly governs the effectiveness of biochar produced from a specific biomass source.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Research Program : East & Southern Africa |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | biochar, productivity, soil amendment, thermal conversion, weed management |
| Subjects: | Others > Weed Science Others > Maize |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nagaraju T |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2024 04:11 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2024 04:11 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/12826 |
| Official URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/s... |
| Projects: | Plankton Ecoengineering for Environmental and Economic Transformations, Eco‐Engineering for Agricultural Revitalization toward Improvement of Human Nutrition/EARTH: Water Hyacinth to Energy and Agricultural Crops through the Japan Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development/SATREPS |
| Funders: | MEXT/Japan, Japan Science and Technology Agency/ JST and Japan International Cooperation Agency/JICA |
| Acknowledgement: | This study was made possible by funding from MEXT/Japan‐funded Plankton Ecoengineering for Environmental and Economic Transformations project as well as the Japan Science and Technology Agency/JST and Japan International Cooperation Agency/JICA‐funded Project for Eco‐Engineering for Agricultural Revitalization toward Improvement of Human Nutrition/EARTH: Water Hyacinth to Energy and Agricultural Crops through the Japan Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development/SATREPS (Grant Number—JPMPSA2005). |
| Links: |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric