Low-cost and environmental-friendly Triticum aestivum-derived biochar for improving plant growth and soil fertility

ABSTRACT

Biochar and biochar–fertilizer concoction is imperative to subjugate reduced plant growth and soil fertility depletion which is a constraint for sustainable agriculture. The aspiration of the current research was to determine the plant growth response to wheat straw-derived biochar annexation in soils from two regions: Rawalpindi (semi-arid) and Thar (arid). Wheat straw (Triticum aestivum) was pyrolyzed at 300°C in a low-cost biochar retort kiln at different concentration rates (0%, 1%, 3%, and 7% by mass). Growth trend of Sorghum bicolor was observed in these soils for 40 days in a greenhouse. Fertilizer (NPK) (8.58% N, 4.39% P, and 3.48% K) was added to soil on the third day of seed germination. Soil physicochemical analysis, plant growth, and dry matter yield evaluation after the treatment signified the concomitant increase in dry matter yield along with enhanced soil fertility and plant growth.

KEYWORDS:

• Biochar
• kiln
• soil fertility
• sorghum
• wheat

View correction statement:

Correction

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Shazia Iftikhar

Dr. Shazia Iftikhar is an Associate Professor in the department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. She obtained her B.Sc and M.Sc degree from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan while her M.Phil degree from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan. She completed her Ph.D from Quaid-i-Azam University and Kaiserslautern, Germany (under DAAD Sandwitch Programme). She is an aspiring researcher and professor in the field of Mycotoxicology and plant pathology. She has a number of publications in well reputed journals.

Khuram Shahzad Ahmad

Dr. Khuram Shahzad Ahmad is an ambitious and assiduous researcher and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. He completed his MSc (Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry) from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan and PhD Chemistry (Environmental) from Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan. He has also worked as a research collaborator in the University of Manchester. He has various publications in soil and pesticide sciences and green chemistry in reputed journals.

Mahwash Mahar Gul

Mahwash Mahar Gul is currently a PhD scholar in Environmental Sciences (Chemistry) in Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. She had completed her BS (Honors) in Bioinformatics from International Islamic University, Pakistan and M.Phil in Environmental Sciences from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan. She is a dedicated and diligent researcher in Environmental Chemistry.