PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SAGO BARK BIOCHAR AND ITS POTENTIAL AS PLANT GROWTH MEDIA

• Main Authors: Nor Khairunnisa, Mohamad Fathi, Sharifah Mona, Abd Aziz Abdullah, Mohamad Fhaizal, Mohamad Bukhori, Rafeah, Wahi, Mohd Alhafiizh, Zailani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Analytical Sciences Society 2021
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QD Chemistry; QP Physiology; S Agriculture (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35936/1/khairunnisa1.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35936/; https://mjas.analis.com.my/mjas/v25_n4/v25_n4.html
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Biochar application as a soil amender can alter soil physical properties with its effects on soil aeration, water holding capacity, soil workability and plant growth. Sago biochar (SBB) was produced through carbonization of the sago bark waste in an oxygen free environment. This study aims to improve the morphological characteristics and physicochemical properties of SBB. The SBB was chemically treated using HCl and NaOH. The morphological characteristics of samples were analysed using SEM and BET. Meanwhile, the physicochemical analysis was performed using FTIR, CHN analyser and AAS. The treated sago biochar (TSB) showed the highest surface area (158.82 m2 /g) and can be classified as macropores (53.4 nm). This indicates that the TSB has large pores influencing the cohesiveness of soil particles, water storage, and increase in water holding capacity (97.63%). It also had the highest Ca and Mg (6.67% and 4.37%, respectively) which can assist in the production of chlorophyll in plant. TSB also showed a higher micronutrient concentration (Mn, Cu, and Fe) particularly the Fe concentration (2.00 mg/kg). The findings suggested that TSB could be used to improve soil qualities such as water holding and nutrients content, indicating that it has a good potential as a soil amender