scholarly journals Use of organic waste biochar as an innovative alternative for increasing agricultural productivity in small rural communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. e8910413848
Author(s):  
Maria Isidória Silva Gonzaga ◽  
Danyelle Chaves Figueiredo de Souza ◽  
José Carlos de Jesus Santos

Biochar, pyrolyzed organic waste for agronomic and environmental purposes, is a viable alternative to improve soil quality in small farm areas in the state of Sergipe, where there is a shortage of water and chemical inputs. This study evaluated the effect of single and simultaneous application of doses (t ha-1) of sewage sludge (SS) and dry coconut shell (CS) on some soil properties and sunflower growth and nutrition (Helianthus annuus L.), in São Cristóvão-SE. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized scheme, with 6 treatments (1. SE60CS0; 2. SE30CS0; 3. SE20CS10; 4. SE10CS20; 5. SE0CS30; 6. Control (without biochar) and 5 repetitions. In the soil, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and P, K, and Na concentrations were determined. In the plant, biomass, height, chlorophyll content, and N, P, and K were evaluated. Alone, coconut biochar increased the soil pH but reduced plant N. The sludge biochar did not increase soil pH but improved the soil N and P levels, plant growth (25%), and inflorescence (33%), indicating greater benefits of joint application. In addition to improving productivity, biochar, both from sewage sludge and dry coconut shell, can improve the destination and management of these residues and, at the same time, promote the recycling of nutrients in soil.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Gondek ◽  
Monika Mierzwa-Hersztek ◽  
Michał Kopeć ◽  
Jakub Sikora ◽  
Tomáš Lošák ◽  
...  

Abstract In the course of analysing sewage sludge biochar (BC) as a material containing phosphorus loads, we determined the following: effect of thermal conversion of three different sewage sludge biochars on the content and availability of P in biochars (BC-1, BC-2 BC-3), effect of their application on selected forms of P in soil and on the accumulation of this component in Poa pratensis L. biomass. Regardless of the type of BC, the contents of P-H2O and P-CaCl2 were lower than the contents determined in unconverted sewage sludge. A significant increase in the content of P-CaCl2 compared to the control was noted in the soil of treatments where 1 and 2 % additions of BC-2 and BC-3 were applied. Soil pH (r = 0.826; p ≤ 0.05) and the content of Ca-exchangeable (r = 0.712; p ≤ 0.05) had the strongest effect on the content of P-CaCl2 in soil; however, no significant relationship was found between the amount of P-introduced with BC, the contents of Al-ox., Fe-ox. and the content of P-CaCl2. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the phosphorus content in plant biomass was noted in all treatments compared to the control. Regardless of the type of biochar applied, the highest amount of P-uptake was determined in treatments where the greatest addition of BC (2 %) was introduced into the soil. A significant relationship between P-uptake and the amount of P-introduced with BC into the soil (r = 0.726; p ≤ 0.05) was demonstrated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 2023-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka A. Pilarska ◽  
Krzysztof Pilarski ◽  
Boguslawa Waliszewska ◽  
Magdalena Zborowska ◽  
Kamil Witaszek ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Kai Schumüller ◽  
Dirk Weichgrebe ◽  
Stephan Köster

AbstractTo tap the organic waste generated onboard cruise ships is a very promising approach to reduce their adverse impact on the maritime environment. Biogas produced by means of onboard anaerobic digestion offers a complementary energy source for ships’ operation. This report comprises a detailed presentation of the results gained from comprehensive investigations on the gas yield from onboard substrates such as food waste, sewage sludge and screening solids. Each person onboard generates a total average of about 9 kg of organic waste per day. The performed analyses of substrates and anaerobic digestion tests revealed an accumulated methane yield of around 159 L per person per day. The anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste (50:50 VS) emerged as particularly effective and led to an increased biogas yield by 24%, compared to the mono-fermentation. In the best case, onboard biogas production can provide an energetic output of 82 W/P, on average covering 3.3 to 4.1% of the total energy demand of a cruise ship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6221
Author(s):  
Muyuan Ma ◽  
Yaojun Zhu ◽  
Yuanyun Wei ◽  
Nana Zhao

To predict the consequences of environmental change on the biodiversity of alpine wetlands, it is necessary to understand the relationship between soil properties and vegetation biodiversity. In this study, we investigated spatial patterns of aboveground vegetation biomass, cover, species diversity, and their relationships with soil properties in the alpine wetlands of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Furthermore, the relative contribution of soil properties to vegetation biomass, cover, and species diversity were compared using principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis. Generally, the relationship between plant biomass, coverage, diversity, and soil nutrients was linear or unimodal. Soil pH, bulk density and organic carbon were also significantly correlated to plant diversity. The soil attributes differed in their relative contribution to changes in plant productivity and diversity. pH had the highest contribution to vegetation biomass and species richness, while total nitrogen was the highest contributor to vegetation cover and nitrogen–phosphorus ratio (N:P) was the highest contributor to diversity. Both vegetation productivity and diversity were closely related to soil properties, and soil pH and the N:P ratio play particularly important roles in wetland vegetation biomass, cover, and diversity.


Author(s):  
Hermann C. de Albuquerque ◽  
Geraldo R. Zuba Junio ◽  
Regynaldo A. Sampaio ◽  
Luiz A. Fernandes ◽  
Fabiano B. S. Prates ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the residual effect of sewage sludge fertilization on yield and nutrition of sunflower in its second cycle. The experiment was carried out from April to August 2012. The treatments consisted of four doses of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1, dry basis) applied in the first cycle of sunflower, distributed in a randomized block design, with six replicates. Sunflower stem diameter, plant height, capitulum diameter and yield increased with the increment in sewage sludge doses, with maximum values observed with the dose of 30 t ha-1. The contents of calcium and magnesium in the soil, pH, sum of bases, effective and potential cation exchange capacity and base saturation increased, while potential acidity and the contents of manganese and iron in the leaves decreased, with the increment in the residual doses of sewage sludge. There was a reduction in yield and growth characteristics of sunflower in the second cycle; thus, additional fertilization with sewage sludge is recommended in each new cycle.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lina Cardoso ◽  
C. Esperanza Ramírez ◽  
E. Violeta Escalante

There are problems associated with sludge management in small treatment plants (<10 L/s) located in rural communities, due to costly conventional technology for sludge stabilization. Many of these plants have only sludge drying beds. Mexican Institute of Water Technology has proposed developing suitable low-cost technologies, one of which is vermicomposting a biodegradation system using earthworms of the species Eisenia foetida (earthworm) which stabilize sludge and reduce its pathogenicity. The objective of this work is to present two case studies where vermicomposting technology has been applied in Mexico. The first study corresponds to a plant where 4.8 m3/month of sludge are produced; for these wastes, a vermicomposting system was built and installed. The second study is a treatment plant where 9 m3/month of sludge are produced; experimental tests were conducted with sludge and water hyacinth and a vermicomposting system was designed. The vermicomposts were analyzed using parameters defined by Mexican standards. In regards to stabilization, TVS was reduced by 38% and the microbiological quality of the vermicompost was Class A and B, with a reduction in fecal coliforms and Helminth eggs according to NOM-004-SEMARNAT-2002. A CRETI (Corrosivity, Reactivity, Explosivity, Toxicity and Ignitability) analysis (NOM-052-SEMARNAT-2005) was used to show that the process reduced the concentration of releasable sulfides. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost exhibited a high content of organic matter comparable to many organic manures and high content of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that it is possible to improve the conditions of sewage sludge management in small plants of rural communities with a minimum investment (less than $10,000.00 USD) and with a requirement of a minimum area of 60 to 70 m2 for a production of less than 9 m3/month of dehydrated sludge (80% humidity).


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2249
Author(s):  
Nikolett Uzinger ◽  
Orsolya Szécsy ◽  
Nóra Szűcs-Vásárhelyi ◽  
István Padra ◽  
Dániel Benjámin Sándor ◽  
...  

Organic waste and the compost and vermicompost derived from it may have different agronomic values, but little work is available on this aspect of sewage sludge. A 75-day pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as the test plant aimed to investigate the fertiliser value and organic matter replenishment capacity of digested sewage sludge (DS) and the compost (COM) and vermicompost (VC) made from it, applied in 1% and 3% doses on acidic sand and calcareous loam. The NPK content and availability, changes in organic carbon content and plant biomass, and the efficiency of the amendments as nitrogen fertilisers were investigated. The final average residual carbon content for DS, COM, and VC was 35 ± 34, 85 ± 46, and 55 ± 46%, respectively. The organic carbon mineralisation rate depended on the soil type. The additives induced significant N mineralisation in both soils: the average increment in mineral N content was 1.7 times the total added N on acidic sand and 4.2 times it on calcareous loam for the 1% dose. The agronomic efficiency of COM and VC as fertilisers was lower than that of DS. In the short term, DS proved to be the best fertiliser, while COM was the best for organic matter replenishment.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Milda Radžiūtė ◽  
Audronė Matusevičiūtė

Sewage dump is the main organic waste component accumulating in water treatment companies, and therefore the utilization of dump remains a burning issue. Fertilization is the most popular and cheapest way of using sewage dump a part of which is intended for agriculture in most European countries for composting purposes. Sewage dump or its compost are suitable for fertilizing the upper layers of the soil in cases the concentration of heavy metals is not greater than sanitarian standards can tolerate. The examinations were carried out using different waste dump rates from Vilnius water treatment facility in willow (Salix viminalis) grown cultivated fields. The analysis of the soil was executed after one and two years following the fertilization process. The obtained results indicate that waste dump is a valuable organic fertilizer which contains small amounts of heavy metals. Separate heavy metals migrate from sewage sludge compost to plants differently. It was noted that the concentration of heavy metals in willows was greater (except for Pb and Cd) than that in the soil.


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