Application of Pistachio Shell Biochar with Organic Cow Manure for Sustainable Agriculture Practice

Abstract

Sustainable crop production supports food security by mitigating water and nutrient stress from manures by excessively drained water. Cow manure is a good nutrient resource to enhance soil fertility and plant growth but requires a suitable amender to reduce the nutrients loss by leaching. Worldwide more than 20400 metric tonnes of pistachios were consumed where roughly 30% of the weight of the nut is the shell and could be a good feedstock for biochar production. Therefore, this study aims to produce biochar from pistachio shell by pyrolysis process at three different temperatures 350 to 550°C and by the analysis of various properties towards agriculture, the biochar at 450 ˚C was amended with 0% (control), 2%, 4% and 8% to the manure for eggplant growth (Solanum melongena). Out of all fractions of biochar application, 2% biochar has virtuous performance to increase 5.63 ± 1.45 cm of plant height, 1.33 ± 4.79 cm leaf length and 1.90 ± 4.43 cm leaf width compared to the control. The leaf chlorophyl content and plant biomass were also significantly (p = 0.02) increased compared to the control condition. However, there is no statistical difference was noticed in stomatal conductance and water retention capacity (p > 0.11) due to greater plant growth. We concluded from this study, a lower fraction of biochar application with manure is beneficial to reduce nutrient leaching from the manure. Under the circular economy and frameworks of sustainability, pistachio shell biochar application as an amendment in crop production has been a high legislative focus on valorizing food waste.