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Production and characterization of crop residues derived biochars for soil amendment and carbon sequestration

This study focused on the production and characterization of biochars from three types of crop residues comprising cotton stems, corn cobs and sorghum stems. The reactor used was a local cone kiln made from a 200-liter drum. The production parameters measured included the duration of pyrolysis, the amount of biochar produced and the production yield. The chemical characteristics of the biochars were determined using the usual analytical methods used for organic amendment analyses. According to the study, pyrolysis time, biochar quantities and production yields depended on the type of crop residues. The three types of biochar obtained showed high C/N values indicating that their use as soil amendment must be combined with mineral fertilizers to ensure good plant development and crop yield. The heavy metal contents of the three biochar types complied with the international standards recommended for biochars by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) and by the European Biochar Certificate (EBC). The production and the use of Biochar from crop residues is an interesting alternative for sustainable soil fertility management in the Sahelian countries.

Uploaded by: Désiré Jean Pascal Lompo
Author: LOMPO, Désiré Jean Pascal
Co-author: Yé, Lambiénou
Co-author: Ouédraogo, Souleymane
Co-author: Sori, Siélé Ibrahima
Co-author: Nacro, Hassan Bismark
Institution: Université de Dédougou | Centre: Promoting Academic Capacities for Sustainable Agricultural Resources Use in West Africa (Pro-RUWA)
Type: Journal article | English | Peer Reviewed
Subjects: Agriculture

Published: Journal of Agricultural Studies, ISSN 2166-0379 | Vol. 9, no. 1 | Las Vegas, Nevada: Macrothink Institute
Date: 2021 | Pages: 130-145
https://doi.org/10.5296/jas.v9i1.17890
Copyright: The author(s) | License: Open Access: CC BY 4.0