Kanphitcha Thongkham

Title : The effects of biochar coating with sodium alginate on nitrogen release and growth of khao dawk mali 105

Abstract:

Currently, the population is increasing and the demand for food is increasing as well. In agriculture, it is necessary to use chemical fertilizers to increase production. However, too much chemical fertilizer will increase costs and cause decompose without being completely usable by plants. The objective of the research is to find a way to slow down the release of nitrogen by applying biochar to produce slow-release fertilizer. This research studied 1) a comparison of the surface characteristics of eucalyptus and rubber biochar by scanning electron microscope and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) found the number of pores per square micrometer of rubber and eucalyptus biochar was equal to 0.010 and 0.024, respectively, and eucalyptus biochar has a specific surface area of 119.24 m²/g. 2) studied the nitrogen release results of biochar coated and uncoated with sodium alginate compared with urea fertilizer and found that coated biochar with sodium alginate gradually released nitrogen on days 1 and 15 in lower amounts than uncoated biochar with sodium alginate and urea fertilizer. And 3) studied the effects of coated biochar and uncoated with sodium alginate on the growth of 2-week-old Khao Dawk Mali 105 seedlings grown in plant nutrient solution for 6 weeks. It was found the rice seedlings treated with coated biochar with sodium alginate had height, fresh weight, and dry weight equal to 19.25 cm, 0.109 and 0.020 g, respectively. The results of the study indicate the use of slow-release fertilizer from biochar promotes the growth of rice better than growing in plant nutrient solution. And eucalyptus biochar coated with sodium alginate can be applied as a good slow-release fertilizer in agriculture.

Keywords: biochar, nitrogen-releasing, slow-release fertilizer

Audience Takeaway:

• Basic information is obtained that will lead to slow-release fertilizer of plant nutrients from biochar.
• Application of slow-release fertilizer to reduce production costs for farmers and interested audience.
• Biochar is an alternative for individuals interested in growing plants.

Biography:

Kanphitcha Thongkham studying for a master's degree in Biology at the Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. She is interested in the effects of biochar coating with sodium alginate on nitrogen release and growth of Khao Dawk Mali 105.