Soil Amendment With Biochar Blend Produced From Selected Waste

Abstract

Agricultural performance of biochar blend prepared from waste on the properties of soil supporting the oil palm was investigated. The biochar from the waste produced from coconut coir and chicken dung at 300oC for three hours were characterized in terms of pH, attrition, porosity, bulk density, ash content, conductivity, surface charge, nutrient value, yield% and surface area. Soil samples collected at the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) main station were prepared and analyzed for physico-chemical properties in the laboratory using standard techniques. The physico-chemical properties of the biochar blend –soil mixture samples in which sprouted oil palm seedlets have been planted were measured as a function of biochar blend and loading and compared with the values obtained in the control without biochar. The biochar blend showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in soil properties and growth of the oil palm seedlets.