Transforming Agricultural Waste into Biochar: An Eco-Friendly Solid Waste Management Strategy

Abstract

Solid waste is considered to be a major threat to environmental sustainability. Increase in population and urbanization has elevated this issue to an alarming level. One of the best ways to manage waste is to convert it into valuable product. The main aim of this research was the production and determination of physicochemical characteristics of biochar and to determine its efficacy on plant growth attributes. The results indicated that in case of non-wood biomass derived biochar, biochar pyrolyzed at 500 C for 1 hour showed best results having moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon content of 1.3%, 15.1%, 28.8% and 82.8%, respectively. In wood biomass derived biochar, biochar pyrolyzed at 500 C for 1 hour showed best results having moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon content of 1%, 13.1%, 16.4%, and 74.8%, respectively. Elemental and morphological analyses were determined by modern progressive technique: SEM-EDX. Further, phytotoxicity test by seed germination method was performed to assess the potential of biochar as soil amendment. Three concentrations of biochar: 0%, 1% and 2% were evaluated on coriander plant growth and effects were analyzed considering root length, shoot length and germinated seeds. Treatment T2 showed maximum increment in growth attributes of coriander plant in both non-wood and wood biomass derived biochar. Therefore, it can be concluded that both wood and non-wood biomass derived biochar can be applied safely as soil amendment leading to reduction in solid waste.