Conversion of Biomass Waste into Biochar and the Effect on Mung Bean Crop Production. Issue 7 (14th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saxena, Jyoti; Rawat, Jyoti; Kumar, Raj
• Is Part Of: Clean. Volume 45:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-06-14
• Subjects: Cow dung -- Pine needles -- Pine wood -- Pyrolysis; Water quality -- Periodicals; Water -- Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Periodicals; Water chemistry -- Periodicals; 333.7205
• DOI: 10.1002/clen.201501020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-0650

Abstract

Abstract : The dependence on chemical fertilizers in agriculture leads to environmental hazards, destruction of biological communities, and poorer soil quality. Addition of biochar in soil alters overall soil properties, encourages microbiota and increases nutrients' holding and absorption capacity; hence can be used to improve soil fertility for sustainable agriculture. Cow dung (CD), pine wood (PW), and pine needles (PN) found abundantly in the Himalayan region were selected for preparing biochar. Since phosphate solubilizing fungi have also been cited in the literature to enhance plant growth, the Penicillium sp. K4 strain was added along with biochar. A pot experiment with mung bean plants with eight different treatments was conducted. Generally, all the treatments showed a significant increase in growth and yield compared to plants grown in untreated soil. However, the biochar prepared from pine needles was found to be the best. It was observed that addition of biochar to soil influenced the overall growth of plants positively but the inoculation of Penicillium sp. K4 with biochar improved this effect further. Hence, it can be concluded that the addition of bio‐inoculant in biochar can be a useful practice for enhancing crop productivity. Abstract : Cow dung, pine wood, and pine needles are selected for biochar production. A pot experiment with mung bean plants with eight different treatments is conducted. A phosphate solubilizing fungus, Penicillium sp. K4, is added along with different biochars. A significant increase in growth and yield of plants is observed in all the treatments compared to untreated soil.