Experimental study demonstrates enhanced nutrient retention and crop growth in Chinese kale, indicating that biochar-enriched bio-extract serves as an effective slow-release amendment.
Key Points
To evaluate biochar derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches as a nutrient carrier for seafood-waste fermented bio-extract to minimize leaching and improve organic soil amendment efficiency.
Characterized initial nutrient compositions of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar and seafood processing waste fermented bio-extract (FB).
Conducted adsorption equilibrium tests over 60 minutes and immersion leaching experiments over 6 hours to determine nutrient retention profiles.
Performed pot trials comparing the growth and biomass of Chinese kale amended with FB-enriched EFB biochar against cattle manure and urea.
Adsorption equilibrium was reached after 60 minutes, increasing biochar nutrient levels from 1.48% N, 0.72% P, and 1.68% K to 3.18% N, 2.30% P, and 3.03% K.
Immersion trials showed that FB-enriched biochar retained significantly greater amounts of N, P, and K compared to untreated biochar throughout the initial 6 hours.
In pot experiments, FB-enriched biochar produced significantly greater Chinese kale growth and biomass than cattle manure, despite delivering substantially less nitrogen than urea at the same application rate.