Physico-chemical Characterization of Biochar from Different Biomass Materials
R. Diya *
Department of Soil science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 695522, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
A. V. Meera *
Integrated Farming System Research Station (KAU), Karamana, 695002, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
B. Rani
Department of Soil science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 695522, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
N. Leno
Department of Soil science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 695522, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
J. John
Integrated Farming System Research Station (KAU), Karamana, 695002, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To conduct the physico-chemical analysis of biochar derived from various organic residues, an examination of the physical characteristics including bulk density, water retention capacity, and the chemical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, total organic carbon, as well as the concentration of macro and micro nutrients were evaluated.
Study Design: Experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with 7 treatments and 3 replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was conducted at Integrated Farming System Research, Karamana, Kerala Agricultural University during 2021-2023.
Methods: Organic residues from different sources were converted into biochar utilizing a double barrel Biochar Kiln, and subsequently, the biochars were analyzed in a Soil and Plant Analysis laboratory to determine their physical and chemical properties.
Result: Physio-chemical properties of biochar vary significantly with the choice of feedstock material. Banana pseudostem biochar reported the lowest bulk density (0.21 Mg m-3) and highest water holding capacity (327.74%). All the biochar produced were alkaline in nature, and they contained high cation exchange capacity ranging between 9.34 to 14.10cmol (+) kg-1. Macro and micro nutrient contents were comparatively higher in Limnocharis flava biochar and Banana pseudostem biochar.
Conclusion: Organic residues can be successfully converted to biochar and results obtained show the suitability of application of produced biochar as a soil amendment.
Keywords: Biochar, pyrolysis, organic residue, physico-chemical properties
How to Cite
Downloads
References
Porichha GK, Hu Y, Rao KT, Xu CC. Crop residue management in India: Stubble burning vs. other utilizations including bioenergy. Energies. 2021;14(14):4281.
Venkatramanan V, Shah S, Rai AK, Prasad R. Nexus between crop residue burning, bioeconomy and sustainable development goals over north-western India. Frontiers in Energy Research. 2021 Jan 26;8: 614212.
Oni BA, Oziegbe O, Olawole OO. Significance of biochar application to the environment and economy. Annals of Agricultural Sciences. 2019 Dec 1;64(2): 222-36.
Babu S, Singh R, Kumar S, Rathore SS, Yadav D, Yadav SK, Yadav V, Ansari MA, Das A, Rajanna GA, Wani OA. Biochar implications in cleaner agricultural production and environmental sustainability. Environmental Science: Advances. 2023;2(8):1042-59.
Lehmann J. A handful of carbon. Nature. 2007 May 10;447(7141):143-4.
Anjali T, Anand M, Akhilesh K, Madhuraj P, CS RK, Waran A. Physico-chemical Characterization of Biochar from Selected Ligno-cellulosic Biomass for The Sustainable Utilization. International Journal of Applied Biology. 2022 Dec 29; 6(2):186-212.
Atkinson CJ, Fitzgerald JD, Hipps NA. Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: a review. Plant and soil. 2010 Dec;337:1-8.
Shi S, Zhang Q, Lou Y, Du Z, Wang Q, Hu N, Wang Y, Gunina A, Song J. Soil organic and inorganic carbon sequestration by consecutive biochar application: Results from a decade field experiment. Soil Use and Management. 2021 Jan;37(1):95-103.
Ding Y, Liu Y, Liu S, Li Z, Tan X, Huang X, Zeng G, Zhou L, Zheng B. Biochar to improve soil fertility. A review. Agronomy for sustainable development. 2016 Jun;36: 1-8.
Pan D, Liu C, Yu H, Li F. A paddy field study of arsenic and cadmium pollution control by using iron-modified biochar and silica sol together. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2019 Aug 1;26: 24979-87.
Ippolito JA, Spokas KA, Novak JM, Lentz RD, Cantrell KB. Biochar elemental composition and factors influencing nutrient retention. Biochar for environmental management: Science, Technology and Implementation. 2015 Feb 20;139.
Xie T, Reddy KR, Wang C, Yargicoglu E, Spokas K. Characteristics and applications of biochar for environmental remediation: a review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 2015 May 3; 45(9):939-69.
Sakhiya AK, Anand A, Kaushal P. Production, activation, and applications of biochar in recent times. Biochar. 2020 Sep; 2:253-85.
Banu MR, Rani B, Kavya SR, Nihala Jabin PP. Biochar: A Black Carbon for Sustainable Agriculture. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023 Apr 21;13(6):418-32.
Blanco-Canqui H. Biochar and soil physical properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 2017 Jul;81(4):687-711.
Sun Z, Hu Y, Shi L, Li G, Han J, Pang Z, Liu S, Chen Y, Jia B. Effects of biochar on soil chemical properties: A global meta-analysis of agricultural soil. Plant, Soil and Environment. 2022 Jun 21;68(6):272-89.
Nagula S, Technology refinement for biochar production and evaluation of its effect on soil health and crop production. Ph.D. thesis. Kerala Agricultural University. 2017;185.
Jackson ML, Soil Chemical Analysis. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall of India (Pvt) Ltd: New Delhi; 1973.
Piper CS, Soil and Plant Analysis. Hans Publications: Bombay; 1966.
Gopinath PP, Parsad R, Joseph B, Adarsh VS. grapesAgri1: collection of shiny apps for data analysis in agriculture. Journal of Open Source Software. 2021 Jul 18;6(63): 3437.
Gopal M, Gupta A, Shahul Hameed K, Sathyaseelan N, Khadeejath Rajeela TH, Thomas GV. Biochars produced from coconut palm biomass residues can aid regenerative agriculture by improving soil properties and plant yield in humid tropics. Biochar. 2020 Jun;2:211-26.
Xie T, Reddy KR, Wang C, Yargicoglu E, Spokas K. Characteristics and applications of biochar for environmental remediation: a review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 2015 May 3; 45(9):939-69.
Sakhiya AK, Anand A, Kaushal P. Production, activation, and applications of biochar in recent times. Biochar. 2020 Sep; 2:253-85.
Brewer CE. Biochar characterization and engineering. Iowa State University; 2012.
Hariz AM, Azlina WA, Fazly MM, Norziana ZZ, Ridzuan MM, Tosiah S, Ain AN. Local practices for production of rice husk biochar and coconut shell biochar: Production methods, product characteristics, nutrient and field water holding capacity. Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science. 2015;43(1): 91-101.
Weber K, Quicker P. Properties of biochar. Fuel. 2018 Apr 1;217:240-61.
Novak JM, Busscher WJ, Laird DL, Ahmedna M, Watts DW, Niandou MA. Impact of biochar amendment on fertility of a southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil science. 2009 Feb 1;174(2):105-12.
Gaskin JW, Steiner C, Harris K, Das KC, Bibens B. Effect of low-temperature pyrolysis conditions on biochar for agricultural use. Transactions of the ASABE. 2008;51(6):2061-9.
Rajkumar R, Aggrading lateritic soil using biochar. Ph.D. thesis. Kerala Agricultural University. 2019;301.
Lee JW, Kidder M, Evans BR, Paik S, Buchanan Iii AC, Garten CT, Brown RC. Characterization of biochars produced from corn stovers for soil amendment. Environmental science & technology. 2010 Oct 15;44(20):7970-4.
Kharel G, Sacko O, Feng X, Morris JR, Phillips CL, Trippe K, Kumar S, Lee JW. Biochar surface oxygenation by ozonization for super high cation exchange capacity. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 2019 Sep 4;7(19):16410-8.
Downie A, Crosky A, Munroe P. Physical properties of biochar. Biochar for environmental management: Science and technology. 2009;13.
Sorgonà A, Longo L, Proto AR, Cavalletti P, Cecchini M, Salvati L, Gallucci F, Colantoni A. Characterization of biochar and syngas obtained from pellets of grape vine and sun flower husk using a pyrolysis system. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2016 Jun 10;223:871-8.
Nair RR, Schaate A, Klepzig LF, Turcios AE, Lecinski J, Shamsuyeva M, Endres HJ, Papenbrock J, Behrens P, Weichgrebe D. Physico-chemical characterization of walnut shell biochar from uncontrolled pyrolysis in a garden oven and surface modification by ex-situ chemical magnetization. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. 2023 Apr 18:1-20.
Lehmann J, Gaunt J, Rondon M. Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems–a review. Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change. 2006 Mar;11: 403-27.