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Role of Nutrient-Enriched Biochar as a Soil Amendment during Maize Growth: Exploring Practical Alternatives to Recycle Agricultural Residuals and to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Demand

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  • Simon Kizito

    (Key Laboratory of Clean Utilization Technology for Renewable Energy in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
    School of Forestry, Environment and Geographical Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda)

  • Hongzhen Luo

    (Key Laboratory of Clean Utilization Technology for Renewable Energy in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jiaxin Lu

    (Key Laboratory of Clean Utilization Technology for Renewable Energy in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Hamidou Bah

    (Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Renjie Dong

    (Key Laboratory of Clean Utilization Technology for Renewable Energy in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Shubiao Wu

    (Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark)

Abstract

Recycling and value-added utilization of agricultural residues through combining technologies such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis could double the recoverable energy, close the nutrient recycle loop, and ensure cleaner agricultural production. This study assessed the beneficial application of biochar to soil to recycle digestate nutrients, improve soil quality, and reduce conventional chemical fertilizer. The addition of digestate-enriched biochar improved soil quality as it provided higher soil organic matter (232%–514%) and macronutrients (110%–230%) as opposed to the unenriched biochar and control treatments. Maize grown in soil amended with digestate-enriched biochar showed a significantly higher biomass yield compared to the control and non-enriched biochar treatments but was slightly lower than yields from chemical fertilizer treatments. The slightly lower yield (20%–25%) achieved from digestate-enriched biochar was attributed to slower mineralization and release of the adsorbed nutrients in the short term. However, digestate-enriched biochar could in the long term become more beneficial in sustaining soil fertility through maintaining high soil organic matter and the gradual release of micronutrients compared to conventional chemical fertilizer. Positive effects on soil micronutrients, macronutrients, organic matter, and biomass yield indicates that enriched biochar could partly replace chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming in a circular economy concept.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Kizito & Hongzhen Luo & Jiaxin Lu & Hamidou Bah & Renjie Dong & Shubiao Wu, 2019. "Role of Nutrient-Enriched Biochar as a Soil Amendment during Maize Growth: Exploring Practical Alternatives to Recycle Agricultural Residuals and to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:3211-:d:238498
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Farman Wali & Shahid Sardar & Muhammad Naveed & Muhammad Asif & Mohammad Tahsin Karimi Nezhad & Khurram Shehzad Baig & Mohsin Bashir & Adnan Mustafa, 2022. "Effect of Consecutive Application of Phosphorus-Enriched Biochar with Different Levels of P on Growth Performance of Maize for Two Successive Growing Seasons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Jiri Holatko & Tereza Hammerschmiedt & Antonin Kintl & Subhan Danish & Petr Skarpa & Oldrich Latal & Tivadar Baltazar & Shah Fahad & Hanife Akça & Suleyman Taban & Eliska Kobzova & Rahul Datta & Ondre, 2021. "Effect of carbon-enriched digestate on the microbial soil activity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Tsapekos, Panagiotis & Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Alvarado-Morales, Merlin & Zhu, Xinyu & Pan, Junting & Tian, Hailin & Angelidaki, Irini, 2021. "Upcycling the anaerobic digestion streams in a bioeconomy approach: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
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    5. Efthymios Rodias & Eirini Aivazidou & Charisios Achillas & Dimitrios Aidonis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Water-Energy-Nutrients Synergies in the Agrifood Sector: A Circular Economy Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
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    7. Fiza Pir Dad & Waqas-ud-Din Khan & Mohsin Tanveer & Pia Muhammad Adnan Ramzani & Rabia Shaukat & Abdul Muktadir, 2020. "Influence of Iron-Enriched Biochar on Cd Sorption, Its Ionic Concentration and Redox Regulation of Radish under Cadmium Toxicity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    8. Yossif Dady & Roslan Ismail & Hamdan Jol & Fatai Arolu, 2021. "Impact of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biochar Enriched with Chicken Manure Extract on Phosphorus Retention in Sandy Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-12, September.
    9. Hanuman Singh Jatav & Vishnu D. Rajput & Tatiana Minkina & Satish Kumar Singh & Sukirtee Chejara & Andrey Gorovtsov & Anatoly Barakhov & Tatiana Bauer & Svetlana Sushkova & Saglara Mandzhieva & Marina, 2021. "Sustainable Approach and Safe Use of Biochar and Its Possible Consequences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-22, September.
    10. Mosleh Uddin, Md & Wen, Zhiyou & Mba Wright, Mark, 2022. "Techno-economic and environmental impact assessment of using corn stover biochar for manure derived renewable natural gas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    11. Luca Adami & Marco Schiavon, 2021. "From Circular Economy to Circular Ecology: A Review on the Solution of Environmental Problems through Circular Waste Management Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    12. Sang-Mo Kang & Arjun Adhikari & Dibya Bhatta & Ho-Jun Gam & Min-Ji Gim & Joon-Ik Son & Jin Y. Shin & In-Jung Lee, 2022. "Comparison of Effects of Chemical and Food Waste-Derived Fertilizers on the Growth and Nutrient Content of Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-12, February.
    13. Barros, Murillo Vetroni & Salvador, Rodrigo & de Francisco, Antonio Carlos & Piekarski, Cassiano Moro, 2020. "Mapping of research lines on circular economy practices in agriculture: From waste to energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Mukhtar Ahmed & Shakeel Ahmad & Fayyaz-ul-Hassan & Ghulam Qadir & Rifat Hayat & Farid Asif Shaheen & Muhammad Ali Raza, 2019. "Innovative Processes and Technologies for Nutrient Recovery from Wastes: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.
    15. Inga-Mareike Bach & Lisa Essich & Torsten Müller, 2021. "Efficiency of Recycled Biogas Digestates as Phosphorus Fertilizers for Maize," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, June.
    16. Wang, Haitao & Wang, Jiandong & Wang, Chuanjuan & Wang, Shuji & Qiu, Xuefeng & Li, Guangyong, 2022. "Adaptability of biogas slurry–water ratio and emitter types in biogas slurry drip irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    17. Maria A. Lilli & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Konstantinos Lionoudakis & Anna Kritikaki & Styliani Voutsadaki & Maria L. Saru & Konstantinos Komnitsas & Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, 2023. "The Impact of Sewage-Sludge- and Olive-Mill-Waste-Derived Biochar Amendments to Tomato Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    18. Maria A. Lilli & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Konstantinos Lionoudakis & Maria L. Saru & Styliani Voutsadaki & Anna Kritikaki & Konstantinos Komnitsas & Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, 2023. "Characterization and Risk Assessment of Different-Origin Biochars Applied in Agricultural Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.
    19. Mukesh Kumar Soothar & Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani & Mahendar Kumar Sootahar & Jingsheng Sun & Gao Yang & Saleem Maseeh Bhatti & Adama Traore, 2021. "Assessment of Acidic Biochar on the Growth, Physiology and Nutrients Uptake of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Seedlings under Salinity Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Mona Mijthab & Raluca Anisie & Omar Crespo, 2021. "Mosan: Combining Circularity and Participatory Design to Address Sanitation in Low-Income Communities," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    21. Yuchao Bai & Jing Zhu & Baoyuan Deng & Haili Shi & Zongkang Wang & Dongfang Han & Jixian Duan & Dehan Wang, 2020. "Short-Term Effect of the Addition of Rice Husk Gasification Slag on the Movement and Transformation of Phosphorus in Different Soil Types," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    22. Carla Scotti & Chiara Bertora & Massimo Valagussa & Lamberto Borrelli & Giovanni Cabassi & Alberto Tosca, 2022. "Agroenvironmental Performances of Biochar Application in the Mineral and Organic Fertilization Strategies of a Maize–Ryegrass Forage System," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, June.

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