Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils
Background: Faecal matter biochar offers an interesting value proposition where the pyrolysis process guaranties a 100% pathogen elimination, as well as significant reduction in transport and storage weight and volume. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of (1) biochar produced from dried faecal matte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Springer
2018
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81148 |
| _version_ | 1855533030097027072 |
|---|---|
| author | Woldetsadik, D. Drechsel, Pay Marschner, B. Itanna, F. Gebrekidan, H. |
| author_browse | Drechsel, Pay Gebrekidan, H. Itanna, F. Marschner, B. Woldetsadik, D. |
| author_facet | Woldetsadik, D. Drechsel, Pay Marschner, B. Itanna, F. Gebrekidan, H. |
| author_sort | Woldetsadik, D. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Background: Faecal matter biochar offers an interesting value proposition where the pyrolysis process guaranties a 100% pathogen elimination, as well as significant reduction in transport and storage weight and volume. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of (1) biochar produced from dried faecal matter from household based septic tanks, and (2) N fertilizer, as well as their interaction on yield and nutrient status of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), lettuce was grown over two growing cycles under glasshouse on two contrasting soils amended once at the start with factorial combination of faecal matter biochar at four rates (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1) with 0, 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 in randomized complete block design.
Results: For both soils, maximum fresh yields were recorded with biochar and combined application of biochar with N treatments. However, the greatest biochar addition effects (with or without N) with regard to relative yield were seen in less fertile sandy loam soil. We have also observed that faecal matter biochar application resulted in noticeable positive residual effects on lettuce yield and tissue nutrient concentrations in the 2nd growing cycle. For both soils, most nutrients analyzed (N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn) were within or marginally above optimum ranges for lettuce under biochar amendment.
Conclusions: The application of faecal matter biochar enhances yield and tissue nutrient concentrations of lettuce in two contrasting soils, suggesting that faecal matter biochar could be used as an effective fertilizer for lettuce production at least for two growing cycles. Moreover, the conversion of the faecal matter feedstock into charred product may offer additional waste management benefit as it offers an additional (microbiologically safe) product compared to the more common co-composting. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace81148 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publishDateRange | 2018 |
| publishDateSort | 2018 |
| publisher | Springer |
| publisherStr | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace811482025-02-24T06:54:18Z Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils Woldetsadik, D. Drechsel, Pay Marschner, B. Itanna, F. Gebrekidan, H. waste management faecal sludge nutrients septic tanks nitrogen fertilizers lettuces soil amendments soil fertility biochar composting residues yields Background: Faecal matter biochar offers an interesting value proposition where the pyrolysis process guaranties a 100% pathogen elimination, as well as significant reduction in transport and storage weight and volume. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of (1) biochar produced from dried faecal matter from household based septic tanks, and (2) N fertilizer, as well as their interaction on yield and nutrient status of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), lettuce was grown over two growing cycles under glasshouse on two contrasting soils amended once at the start with factorial combination of faecal matter biochar at four rates (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1) with 0, 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 in randomized complete block design. Results: For both soils, maximum fresh yields were recorded with biochar and combined application of biochar with N treatments. However, the greatest biochar addition effects (with or without N) with regard to relative yield were seen in less fertile sandy loam soil. We have also observed that faecal matter biochar application resulted in noticeable positive residual effects on lettuce yield and tissue nutrient concentrations in the 2nd growing cycle. For both soils, most nutrients analyzed (N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn) were within or marginally above optimum ranges for lettuce under biochar amendment. Conclusions: The application of faecal matter biochar enhances yield and tissue nutrient concentrations of lettuce in two contrasting soils, suggesting that faecal matter biochar could be used as an effective fertilizer for lettuce production at least for two growing cycles. Moreover, the conversion of the faecal matter feedstock into charred product may offer additional waste management benefit as it offers an additional (microbiologically safe) product compared to the more common co-composting. 2018-01 2017-05-22T06:33:21Z 2017-05-22T06:33:21Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81148 en Open Access Springer Woldetsadik, D.; Drechsel, Pay; Marschner, B.; Itanna, F.; Gebrekidan, H. 2017. Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils. Environmental Systems Research, 12p. (Online first) doi: 10.1186/s40068-017-0082-9 |
| spellingShingle | waste management faecal sludge nutrients septic tanks nitrogen fertilizers lettuces soil amendments soil fertility biochar composting residues yields Woldetsadik, D. Drechsel, Pay Marschner, B. Itanna, F. Gebrekidan, H. Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title | Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title_full | Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title_fullStr | Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title_short | Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils |
| title_sort | effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce lactuca sativa in two contrasting soils |
| topic | waste management faecal sludge nutrients septic tanks nitrogen fertilizers lettuces soil amendments soil fertility biochar composting residues yields |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/81148 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT woldetsadikd effectofbiocharderivedfromfaecalmatteronyieldandnutrientcontentoflettucelactucasativaintwocontrastingsoils AT drechselpay effectofbiocharderivedfromfaecalmatteronyieldandnutrientcontentoflettucelactucasativaintwocontrastingsoils AT marschnerb effectofbiocharderivedfromfaecalmatteronyieldandnutrientcontentoflettucelactucasativaintwocontrastingsoils AT itannaf effectofbiocharderivedfromfaecalmatteronyieldandnutrientcontentoflettucelactucasativaintwocontrastingsoils AT gebrekidanh effectofbiocharderivedfromfaecalmatteronyieldandnutrientcontentoflettucelactucasativaintwocontrastingsoils |