Abstract
This research evaluated the efficacy of using two types of biochar (non-modified and acidified) from date palm residues (fronds, leaves, pits) as soil amendments for enhancing soil fertility and maize growth. These biochars were produced through slow pyrolysis under oxygen-limited conditions at 500 °C. Our innovative approach was to minimize gas emissions by converting smoke into liquid fertilizer (LS), which was expected to improve seed germination and early plant growth stages. To assess this aim, a completely randomized experiment was conducted under lab conditions, in which 10 maize seeds were placed on double filter papers in Petri dishes and then exposed to seven concentrations of LS (0.0, 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, 10 and 100%, using distilled water for dilution v/v). The LS contains nutrients and bioactive compounds that may enhance seed germination and early plant growth at low concentrations, whereas higher concentrations may cause phytotoxic effects. Results showed that liquefied smoke at 0.1% increased the absolute percentage of maize germination from 75% (control) to 100% and achieved the highest root length of 9.80 cm. Acidified biochars at 5% reduced soil pH from 8.87 to 8.12 and enhanced potassium availability to 87.93 mg kg−1. Conversely, the non-modified biochars contributed to further increases in soil organic matter (up to 1.02%), nitrogen, and phosphorus. In addition, the application of acidified leaf biochar (5%) enhanced maize shoot growth by 133%, chlorophyll content by 39%, and potassium uptake by 110%. This research establishes a scalable approach for converting agricultural waste into climate-resilient resources, effectively addressing soil degradation in arid environments, boosting crop resilience, and furthering the objectives of a circular bioeconomy.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Liquid smoke at 0.1% raised maize germination from 75% to 100%.
- Treatment
- liquefied smoke at 0.1%e0
- Outcome
- maize germinatione0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 100%e0
- Qualifier
- 75%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“liquefied smoke at 0.1% increased the absolute percentage of maize germination from 75% (control) to 100%”
Claim · model-written summary
Liquid smoke at 0.1% produced the highest root length of 9.80 cm.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“liquefied smoke at 0.1% increased the absolute percentage of maize germination from 75% (control) to 100% and achieved the highest root length of 9.80 cm”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent acidified biochar lowered soil pH from 8.87 to 8.12.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Acidified biochars at 5% reduced soil pH from 8.87 to 8.12”
t0“Maize Growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent acidified biochar increased soil potassium availability to 87.93 mg kg−1.
- Treatment
- Acidified biochars at 5%e0
- Outcome
- potassium availabilitye0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Value
- 87.93 mg kg−1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Acidified biochars at 5% reduced soil pH from 8.87 to 8.12 and enhanced potassium availability to 87.93 mg kg−1”
t0“Maize Growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Non-modified biochar increased soil organic matter to 1.02%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“non-modified biochars contributed to further increases in soil organic matter (up to 1.02%), nitrogen, and phosphorus”
t0“Maize Growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Non-modified biochar increased soil nitrogen and phosphorus.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“non-modified biochars contributed to further increases in soil organic matter (up to 1.02%), nitrogen, and phosphorus”
t0“Maize Growth”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent acidified leaf biochar enhanced maize shoot growth by 133%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“application of acidified leaf biochar (5%) enhanced maize shoot growth by 133%”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent acidified leaf biochar enhanced chlorophyll content by 39%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“application of acidified leaf biochar (5%) enhanced maize shoot growth by 133%, chlorophyll content by 39%”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent acidified leaf biochar enhanced potassium uptake by 110%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“application of acidified leaf biochar (5%) enhanced maize shoot growth by 133%, chlorophyll content by 39%, and potassium uptake by 110%”
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