Bamboo scraps and hardwood chips biochar derived from a cone-truncated open fire kiln for use as a nutrition medium for agricultural purpose

Abstract

An experiment on the production of biochar from bamboo scraps and hardwood chips for use as materials to improve soil was done by burning the biomass of the bamboo scraps and hardwood chips in Pyrolysis conditions at a temperature range of 500 - 700C with a cone-truncated open fire kiln which reduces burning time to 45-60 min. Experimental results revealed that the average bamboo-scrap biochar of 2.5 kg resulted from burning 15 kg of the bamboo scraps; likewise, the average hardwood-chip biochar of 2.2 kg resulted from burning 15 kg of the hardwood chips. According to analyses, the bamboo-scrap biochar was composed of 8.6% moisture content, 8.0% volatile substance, 9.0% ash, 83% fixed carbon, 250mg/g iodine and pH 10.3; whereas, the hardwood-chip biochar was composed of 6% moisture content, 8.2% volatile substance, 3% ash , 88.8% fixed carbon, 300 mg/g iodine, and pH 10.1. The result of planting experiments showed that after mixing the biochar for soil nourishment and compost into the planting soil, the morning glory and kale can grow better than those planted in normal soil and soil with compost.