Crambe Growth in a Soil Amended with Biochar and under Saline Irrigation

ABSTRACT

Biochar is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of change in the composition by the action of high temperatures. Advantages of biochar in soil quality have been reported, including amelioration of salinity effects. Crambe has great potential to figure as raw material for biofuel, since it naturally contains up to 60% of erucic acid. This study evaluated crambe growth in a soil amended with biochar and irrigated with saline waters. A greenhouse experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design with five levels of biochar, two irrigation water supplies, and four replications. Parameters related to soil chemical properties, crambe growth, oil, and macronutrient contents were evaluated. Biochar presented significance for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) contents. Crambe growth parameters decreased with the doses of biochar. Oil and macronutrient contents were in accordance to previous studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemical parameters of soil
• Crambe abyssinica
• saline water
• waste of poultry pollutions

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the MS Foundation for the donation of crambe seeds, as well as the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) for providing the biochar employed in this study.

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Paraiba (FAPESQ) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).