| الملخص: | Biochar is a carbon-rich material that enhances nutrient availability, soil quality, and microbial activity, improving plant growth and crop productivity. In this study, the palm oil midrib biochar (POMB) was used as a soil conditioner to improve the growth of romaine lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. var. <i>longifolia</i>), together with a biofertilizer containing a newly isolated bacterial strain SM11. The newly isolated SM11 was closely related to <i>Bacillus siamensis</i>, with 99.77% similarity based on 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis. POMB treatment improved the fresh weight of romaine lettuce by up to 181.33 ± 1.15 g plant<sup>−1</sup>, which is equivalent to 160.27% growth enhancement compared to the control without POMB. By comparison, POMB treatment with a biofertilizer containing SM11 increased fresh weight to 275.67 ± 11.59 g plant<sup>−1</sup> with a growth enhancement of 295.68%. The addition of SM11 biofertilizer also protected against disease during cultivation. The addition of POMB reduced nitrate accumulation in romaine lettuce from 631.38 ± 0.36 to 223.31 ± 0.20 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> by 59.08% compared to the control. This study suggests a way to manage agricultural waste from local palm oil plantations, thereby reducing waste accumulation and adding value to palm oil waste by-products for agricultural benefit through a biotechnological process.
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