Abstract

Biochar is one of the best and economical soil amendments as it helps in carbon sequestration, retains soil nutrients, increases water retention capacity of the soil, attracts more beneficial microbes and thus improves the crop yield. Peanut shell (PNB) biochar is produced by slow pyrolysis at 300 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C and 600 °C. PNB produced at these various temperatures were characterized (pH, electrical conductivity, ash and moisture content, bulk density, FTIR, SEM, XRD, S_BET and elemental analyses). Pot study was carried out with soil amended with PNB obtained at various temperatures and PNB in combination with N (Nitrogen) fertilizer on sorghum crops over 30 days. It is found that Biochar increased soil water retention capacity and N fertilizer utilization efficiency by the plants. PNB, in combination with urea, had a synergistic effect that enhanced sorghum crop growth (fresh and dry weight, height of the plant, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf area). PNB showed no significant effect on seed germination. Thus, PNB, in combination with urea, can be used as an effective soil amendment technique.

• Highlights

• Biochar amendment increased the soil water holding capacity

• Peanut shell biochar in combination with urea has a synergistic effect

• Increased N fertilizer utilization efficiency by the plants when biochar and N fertilizer applied together

• Enhanced sorghum crop growth due to biochar amendment

• Application of Peanut shell biochar showed no significant effect on seed germination

摘要

生物炭是最好和最经济的土壤改良剂之一，因为它有助于固碳、保留土壤养分、增加土壤的保水能力、吸引更多有益微生物从而提高作物产量。花生壳 (PNB) 生物炭是通过在 300 °C、400 °C、500 °C 和 600 °C 下缓慢热解生产的。对在这些不同温度下生产的 PNB 进行表征（pH、电导率、灰分和水分含量、堆积密度、FTIR、SEM、XRD、S _BET和元素分析）。盆栽研究是用在不同温度下获得的 PNB 和 PNB 结合 N（氮）肥对高粱作物进行了 30 天改良的土壤。结果表明，生物炭提高了植物的土壤保水能力和氮肥利用效率。PNB 与尿素结合使用，具有促进高粱作物生长（鲜重和干重、植株高度、茎直径、叶长、叶面积）的协同效应。PNB 对种子萌发无显着影响。因此，PNB 与尿素结合使用可作为一种有效的土壤改良技术。

• 强调

• 生物炭改良剂增加了土壤持水能力

• 花生壳生物炭与尿素结合具有协同作用

• 生物炭和氮肥一起施用时植物对氮肥的利用效率提高

• 生物炭改良剂促进高粱作物生长

• 应用花生壳生物炭对种子萌发无显着影响