Production Of Bio-Fertilizer From Mixture Of Biochar And Compost As Substitute For Mineral Fertilizer

Abstract

This Study Investigates The Potential Of Biofertilizers Derived From Organic Materials And Biochar As Sustainable Alternatives To Mineral Fertilizers. The Overuse Of Mineral Fertilizers Has Led To Soil Degradation, Making Sustainable Alternatives Essential As The Global Population Is Projected To Reach 10 Billion By 2050. By Focusing On Biochar Produced From Coffee Husks Combined With Organic Waste, The Study Aims To Enhance Soil Fertility, Nutrient Availability, And Crop Performance While Addressing Environmental Concerns Associated With Conventional Fertilizers. Biochar Was Created Through Pyrolysis At 550??C, Yielding 36.1% Biochar With A Moisture Content Of 4.47%, A Fixed Carbon Content Of 63.85%, Volatile Matter Of 18.35%, And An Ash Content Of 17.8%. Additionally, High-Quality Compost Was Produced Using Kitchen Scraps, Newspapers, Leaves, And Cow Dung, Optimizing The Carbon-To-Nitrogen (C/N) Ratio. Anova Results Indicated Significant Effects Of Composition Ratio, Duration, And Moisture Content On The C/N Ratio, With A Predicted R-Squared Of 0.9677 And An Adjusted RSquared Of 0.9940. The Optimal Conditions Achieved A Maximum C/N Ratio Of 17.85 While Maintaining It Below 25:1 For Effective Biofertilizer Preparation. The Study Employed Various Mixing Ratios Of Compost Material And Biochar To Develop An Effective Biofertilizer, Which Included Effective Microorganisms (Em) As An Inoculant Obtained By Fermentation For 21 Days. The Biofertilizer Was Prepared Over A 45-Day Composting Period And Tested In A Pot Experiment With Barley To Assess Its Efficacy Over 12 Weeks. Soil Analysis Revealed A Neutral Ph Of 7.02 And Low Electrical Conductivity (0.21 Ds/Cm), Which Were Suitable For Crop Growth, Along With Adequate Macronutrients Like Phosphorus (22.90 Ppm) And Potassium (536 Mg/Kg). In Contrast, Biochar Exhibited An Alkaline Ph Of 9.74 And Significant Nutrient Retention Potential, While Compost Had A Ph Of 7.38 And High Organic Carbon Content (17.70%). The Study Found That The Application Of Biofertilizers Improved Water Holding Capacity (Whc) And Enhanced Barley Growth, With Treatments Containing Higher Biofertilizer Content Significantly Increasing Germination Rates And Plant Height Compared To The Controls. These Findings Support The Potential Of Biofertilizers As Effective Alternatives To Traditional Fertilizers For Promoting Crop Growth And Improving Soil Health.