A Comparative Study of Pelleted Broiler Litter Biochar Derived from Lab-Scale Pyrolysis Reactor with That Resulted from 200-Liter-Oil Drum Kiln to Ameliorate the Relations between Physicochemical Properties of Soil with Lower Organic Matter Soil and Soybean Yield

Abstract

Biochars can be used as soil amendments for improving soil properties and crop yield. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to compare the efficiency of pelleted broiler litter biochar (PBLB) derived from a lab-scale pyrolysis reactor (PBLBL) with that resulted from 200-liter-oil drum kiln (PBLBO). The biochar generated from each reactor was applied to the pot that contained lower organics materials, sandy soil, and grown soybeans cv.Chiangmai-60 (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) at the application rates of 5.00, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 t ha-1. The results showed that both types of pyrolysis reactors (PBLBL and PBLBO), at every application rate, significantly improved the physicochemical properties of soil and increased the growth and yield of soybean; their comparison with a control treatment of soybeans is p < 0.05. At the application rate of 15.0 t ha-1 the PBLBL showed the highest soybean yield. The application of PBLBL and PBLBO significantly led to increased pH, soil organic matter, C:N ration, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and CEC.

Keywords

• Biochar; low organic soil
• pelleted broiler litter
• pyrolysis
• soil ameliorate