Open AccessRecycling rubberwood bark wastes into biochar to enhance chemical properties of peat soils
Author(s) -
Nurfarahana Md Zin,
Nur Qursyna Boll Kassim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/917/1/012012
Subject(s) - biochar , peat , soil water , bark (sound) , environmental science , bulk density , potassium , agronomy , soil ph , chemistry , soil science , forestry , biology , ecology , organic chemistry , pyrolysis , geography
Peat soils in Malaysia is renowned for its poor chemical properties and often lead to restriction in agricultural uses. The abundance of waste in particle board and furniture industry offers a potential for producing biochar products with ability to enhance peat soil chemical properties. This study intends to evaluate the effects of different rate of rubberwood bark biochar on selected chemical properties of peat soils and growth performance of paddy variety MRIA 1, as a test crop. Results showed that application of rubberwood bark biochar at the rate of 226.80 grams (Treatment 3) significantly improve the soil pH, soil exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca)and magnesium (Mg) combined with positive increment of tillers number, root length and height of paddy plant compare to other treatments. This study suggested a positive potential of rubberwood bark biochar to enhance the chemical properties of peat soils which led to good plant growth performance