Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization
Biochar applications to soils may enhance soil quality, hydrological properties, and agronomic productivity. Modification of biochar by activation via introduction of heteroatoms at different pyrolysis conditions can alter physical and chemical characteristics, which may enhance soil properties, alt...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Biomass |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/2/4/14 |
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| author | Sheela Katuwal Amanda J. Ashworth Nur-Al-Sarah Rafsan Praveen Kolar |
| author_facet | Sheela Katuwal Amanda J. Ashworth Nur-Al-Sarah Rafsan Praveen Kolar |
| author_sort | Sheela Katuwal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biochar applications to soils may enhance soil quality, hydrological properties, and agronomic productivity. Modification of biochar by activation via introduction of heteroatoms at different pyrolysis conditions can alter physical and chemical characteristics, which may enhance soil properties, although the extent of this is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of pyrolysis temperature (400, 500, 600, and 700 °C) on activated (activated with methanesulfonic acid) and unactivated biochar produced from poultry litter to identify optimum production conditions for end use as a soil amendment. Physical, chemical, and surface properties of biochars were determined using wet chemistry and spectroscopic analyses. Results showed that activation with methanesulfonic acid increased biochars’ oxygen content, while decreasing its point of zero charge and electrical conductivity. Conversion of raw poultry litter to activated and unactivated biochar increased concentration of P (3-fold), K (1.8-fold), Ca (3-fold), Mg (2.3-fold), and S (4.8-fold), with concentrations increasing with increasing temperatures (<i>p</i> < 0.05) except for C and N. Activated biochar had lower recovery of C and N, but greater water-holding capacity than unactivated biochar. Concentrations of NH<sub>4</sub>-N, NO<sub>3</sub>-N, and water-soluble P were greater in unactivated biochar (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among all biochars, activated biochar produced at 400 °C had the lowest bulk density, total P, K, Ca, and Mg, and greatest water-holding capacity, water-soluble P, Ca, and Mg concentrations, thereby suggesting improved soil amendment characteristics and subsequent soil health under poultry litter biochars produced under these conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c6607bfddaa45979e2633ca307efb47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8783 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomass |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c6607bfddaa45979e2633ca307efb472023-11-24T13:24:43ZengMDPI AGBiomass2673-87832022-09-012420922310.3390/biomass2040014Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for ValorizationSheela Katuwal0Amanda J. Ashworth1Nur-Al-Sarah Rafsan2Praveen Kolar3Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAPoultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USABiological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USABiological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USABiochar applications to soils may enhance soil quality, hydrological properties, and agronomic productivity. Modification of biochar by activation via introduction of heteroatoms at different pyrolysis conditions can alter physical and chemical characteristics, which may enhance soil properties, although the extent of this is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of pyrolysis temperature (400, 500, 600, and 700 °C) on activated (activated with methanesulfonic acid) and unactivated biochar produced from poultry litter to identify optimum production conditions for end use as a soil amendment. Physical, chemical, and surface properties of biochars were determined using wet chemistry and spectroscopic analyses. Results showed that activation with methanesulfonic acid increased biochars’ oxygen content, while decreasing its point of zero charge and electrical conductivity. Conversion of raw poultry litter to activated and unactivated biochar increased concentration of P (3-fold), K (1.8-fold), Ca (3-fold), Mg (2.3-fold), and S (4.8-fold), with concentrations increasing with increasing temperatures (<i>p</i> < 0.05) except for C and N. Activated biochar had lower recovery of C and N, but greater water-holding capacity than unactivated biochar. Concentrations of NH<sub>4</sub>-N, NO<sub>3</sub>-N, and water-soluble P were greater in unactivated biochar (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among all biochars, activated biochar produced at 400 °C had the lowest bulk density, total P, K, Ca, and Mg, and greatest water-holding capacity, water-soluble P, Ca, and Mg concentrations, thereby suggesting improved soil amendment characteristics and subsequent soil health under poultry litter biochars produced under these conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/2/4/14activated biocharbiocharheteroatomspoultry litterpyrolysissoil amendment |
| spellingShingle | Sheela Katuwal Amanda J. Ashworth Nur-Al-Sarah Rafsan Praveen Kolar Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization Biomass activated biochar biochar heteroatoms poultry litter pyrolysis soil amendment |
| title | Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization |
| title_full | Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization |
| title_short | Characterization of Poultry Litter Biochar and Activated Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Valorization |
| title_sort | characterization of poultry litter biochar and activated biochar as a soil amendment for valorization |
| topic | activated biochar biochar heteroatoms poultry litter pyrolysis soil amendment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/2/4/14 |
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