Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Vol 40, No 1 (2025): January

Biochar Quality During Slow Pyrolysis from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches and Its Application as Soil Ameliorant

Amsar Maulana (Doctoral Program of Agricultural Science, Postgraduate of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Mimien Harianti (Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Salma Athiyya (Master of Soil Science, Postgraduate of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Teguh Budi Prasetyo (Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Moli Monikasari (Master of Soil Science, Postgraduate of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Irwan Darfis (Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Dewi Rezki (Department of Agroecotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang)
Herviyanti Herviyanti (Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang)



Article Info

Publish Date
04 Jan 2025

Abstract

The optimal utilization of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) waste holds significant potential for biomass bioconversion via slow pyrolysis, presenting a promising alternative for producing high-quality biochar as a soil ameliorant. This study investigates the effects of slow pyrolysis temperatures (≤ 300 °C) on the physicochemical properties of biochar derived from OPEFB and evaluates its efficacy as a soil ameliorant. This study utilized a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications across two experiments. The first experiment assessed the effect of slow pyrolysis temperature on the quality of biochar derived from OPEFB, with treatments set at four temperatures (150, 200, 250, and 300 °C) levels. The second experiment evaluated the impact of the selected biochar on the surface charge of oil palm plantation soil, applying biochar at five different doses (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 tons ha-¹). The potential temperature of 200 °C in slow pyrolysis had a significant effect on the quality of biochar from OPEFB with a yield ratio of 27.84% char; proximate (91.95% volatile matter and 0.81% fixed carbon), cation exchange capacity (CEC) [167.73 cmol(+) kg-1], and macro and micronutrients (e.g., C, N, P, K, Ca, Si, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn). The potential of O-H, N-H, C-H, and C=O functional groups of biochar from OPEFB for nutrient availability and absorption efficiency proven by the effect of 40 tons ha-1 biochar from OPEFB which significantly increased 80% of soil surface charge [pH by 0.80; organic matter (OM) composition by 19.8%, CEC by 11 cmol(+) kg-1] and nutrients [0.93% C; 0.04% N; 17.57 ppm P2O5; 0.65 cmol(+) kg-1 K] on Inceptisols.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

carakatani

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry

Description

Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture publishes original articles, review articles, case studies and short communications on the fundamentals, applications and management of Sustainable Agriculture areas in collaboration with Indonesian Agrotechnology / Agroecotechnology Association ...