Biochar production from poultry litter as management approach and efects on plant growth

Abstract

Purpose A lots of poultry litter (PL) is being generated every day from poultry industries and improper management leads to diferent environmental problems. Production of biochar from PL is a new management strategy of PL which is a nutrientrich organic amendment for improving soil nutritional status. The experiment was aimed for the production of poultry litter biochar (PLB) from fresh PL to assess the important properties of both PL and PLB, and to observe the efects on plant growth. It also appraised the change of soil properties after PL and PLB application. Methods Poultry litter biochar was produced from fresh PL heated at 300 °C temperature for 10 min in mufe furnace. Poultry litter was applied into the soil at 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 t ha−1 and PLB was applied at 1, 2, 3 and 4 t ha−1 along with control. Gima kalmi (Ipomoea aquatica) was grown as test plant. To assess the potentiality and residual efect, the same plant was grown consecutively after harvesting frst crop. Post-harvest soil analysis was also carried out after harvesting the frst crop. Results After pyrolysis pH, EC, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, total phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron were increased in PLB. A signifcant (p