Articles
A preliminary study on the synthesis and characterization of novel biochar-based fertilizers
Article number
1317_1
Pages
1 – 8
Language
English
Abstract
Negative environmental impacts of intensive agriculture are often associated with low nitrogen (N) use efficiency.
Different slow-release fertilizers have been proposed to improve N use efficiency and reduce associated losses, like the case of biochar-based fertilizers.
The main objective of the present study was to produce and characterize novel biochar-based fertilizers that could reduce the total N-losses in agricultural soils.
A common residue in Mediterranean cropping systems, olive tree pruning, was chosen as feedstock to produce slow pyrolysis biochars at 400 and 800°C. Three different activation treatments were applied to both biochars: 1) ultrasonic treatment at room temperature, 2) 5% H2O2 (1:25 ratio) during 1,5 h at 80°C and 3) 40% HNO3 (1:25 ratio) during 1 h at 80°C. Activated biochars were supplemented with N either by 2 M urea or 2 M ammonium sulfate at 80°C. After each treatment N-enriched biochars were washed three times with deionized water and dried overnight.
The results showed that biochar-based fertilizers from 400°C biochar presented more nitrogen retention capacity than 800°C biochar.
Furthermore, HNO3 activation was the most effective treatment to facilitate the incorporation of N from urea and ammonium sulfate.
Moreover, urea was more effective than ammonium sulfate, reaching N values in the biochar-based fertilizers up to 7.0%. Further studies are being carried out to chemically and agronomically characterize the new biochar-based fertilizers and their suitability as slow-release fertilizers.
Different slow-release fertilizers have been proposed to improve N use efficiency and reduce associated losses, like the case of biochar-based fertilizers.
The main objective of the present study was to produce and characterize novel biochar-based fertilizers that could reduce the total N-losses in agricultural soils.
A common residue in Mediterranean cropping systems, olive tree pruning, was chosen as feedstock to produce slow pyrolysis biochars at 400 and 800°C. Three different activation treatments were applied to both biochars: 1) ultrasonic treatment at room temperature, 2) 5% H2O2 (1:25 ratio) during 1,5 h at 80°C and 3) 40% HNO3 (1:25 ratio) during 1 h at 80°C. Activated biochars were supplemented with N either by 2 M urea or 2 M ammonium sulfate at 80°C. After each treatment N-enriched biochars were washed three times with deionized water and dried overnight.
The results showed that biochar-based fertilizers from 400°C biochar presented more nitrogen retention capacity than 800°C biochar.
Furthermore, HNO3 activation was the most effective treatment to facilitate the incorporation of N from urea and ammonium sulfate.
Moreover, urea was more effective than ammonium sulfate, reaching N values in the biochar-based fertilizers up to 7.0%. Further studies are being carried out to chemically and agronomically characterize the new biochar-based fertilizers and their suitability as slow-release fertilizers.
Publication
Authors
R. Castejón-del Pino, M.L. Cayuela, M. Sánchez-García, M.A. Sánchez-Monedero
Keywords
organic waste, oxidizing treatment, N-doped biochar, nitrogen use efficiency, sustainable intensification
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