Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community

● Biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) pellets with an active microbial community were successfully synthesized. ● The releasing time of 80% N in BCRUF was 4–6 h in the water and 192 h (8 days) in soil. ● Processing parameters of BCRUF fabrication was influenc...

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Main Authors: Robiul Islam RUBEL, Lin WEI, Salman ALANAZI, Abdulkarim ALDEKHAIL, Anne C. M. CIDREIRA, Xufei YANG, Sanjita WASTI, Samarthya BHAGIA, Xianhui ZHAO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Higher Education Press 2024-06-01
Series:Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
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Online Access:https://journal.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-FASE-2024571
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author Robiul Islam RUBEL
Lin WEI
Salman ALANAZI
Abdulkarim ALDEKHAIL
Anne C. M. CIDREIRA
Xufei YANG
Sanjita WASTI
Samarthya BHAGIA
Xianhui ZHAO
author_facet Robiul Islam RUBEL
Lin WEI
Salman ALANAZI
Abdulkarim ALDEKHAIL
Anne C. M. CIDREIRA
Xufei YANG
Sanjita WASTI
Samarthya BHAGIA
Xianhui ZHAO
author_sort Robiul Islam RUBEL
collection DOAJ
description ● Biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) pellets with an active microbial community were successfully synthesized. ● The releasing time of 80% N in BCRUF was 4–6 h in the water and 192 h (8 days) in soil. ● Processing parameters of BCRUF fabrication was influencing the microbe populations in the pellets. ● The BCRUF showed very promising characteristics to improve NUE and sustainability in agricultural production. Nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agriculture suffer losses by volatilization of N to the air, surface runoff and leaching into the soil, resulting in low N use efficiency (NUE) (\lt50%) and raising severe environmental pollutions. Controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers (CRNFs) can control the release of N nutrients to NUE in crop production. Different methods were used to develop new CRNFs. However, different CRNF technologies are still underdeveloped due to inadequate controlling on N releasing time and/or unsustainable diffusion. The study on the influences of CRNF processing parameters on microbial conditions are lacking when the CRNFs composed of various bio-ingredients such as biochar, composts, and biowaste. The complexity of processing methods, material biodegradability, and other physical properties make current CRNFs of questionable value in agricultural production. This research aims to develop a novel biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) to preserve microbial properties carried by the compost. The BCRUF was synthesized by pelletizing the 50:50 (dry, wt/wt) mixture of biochar and compost. BCRUF was loaded with urea and then spray-coated with polylactic acid (PLA). The releasing time of two types of BCRUFs, coated and uncoated with PLA, for 80% of N release in water was up to 6 h at three different temperatures (4, 23, and 40 °C), compared to conventional urea fertilizer and commercial environmentally smart N (ESN) fertilizer. The releasing time of coated BCRUF for 80% N release in soil was up to 192 h (8 days). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that no new functional groups were found in the release solution, indicating no new chemical hazards generated. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests also verified that its thermal stability could be up to 160 °C. The microbe populations in the BCRUF pellets were reduced after the pelleting and drying processes in BCRUF fabrication, but a few bacteria can endure in the air-drying process. BCRUF pellets soaked in water for 4 days retained some bacteria. The BCRUF showed very promising characteristics to improve NUE and sustainability in agricultural production.
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spelling doaj-art-8dec3a562eea4e70af5f109bf6cdd4e12025-08-20T02:27:01ZengHigher Education PressFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering2095-75052024-06-0111232634310.15302/J-FASE-2024571Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial communityRobiul Islam RUBEL0Lin WEI1Salman ALANAZI2Abdulkarim ALDEKHAIL3Anne C. M. CIDREIRA4Xufei YANG5Sanjita WASTI6Samarthya BHAGIA7Xianhui ZHAO81. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA2. Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA ● Biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) pellets with an active microbial community were successfully synthesized. ● The releasing time of 80% N in BCRUF was 4–6 h in the water and 192 h (8 days) in soil. ● Processing parameters of BCRUF fabrication was influencing the microbe populations in the pellets. ● The BCRUF showed very promising characteristics to improve NUE and sustainability in agricultural production. Nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agriculture suffer losses by volatilization of N to the air, surface runoff and leaching into the soil, resulting in low N use efficiency (NUE) (\lt50%) and raising severe environmental pollutions. Controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers (CRNFs) can control the release of N nutrients to NUE in crop production. Different methods were used to develop new CRNFs. However, different CRNF technologies are still underdeveloped due to inadequate controlling on N releasing time and/or unsustainable diffusion. The study on the influences of CRNF processing parameters on microbial conditions are lacking when the CRNFs composed of various bio-ingredients such as biochar, composts, and biowaste. The complexity of processing methods, material biodegradability, and other physical properties make current CRNFs of questionable value in agricultural production. This research aims to develop a novel biochar-compost-based controlled-release urea fertilizer (BCRUF) to preserve microbial properties carried by the compost. The BCRUF was synthesized by pelletizing the 50:50 (dry, wt/wt) mixture of biochar and compost. BCRUF was loaded with urea and then spray-coated with polylactic acid (PLA). The releasing time of two types of BCRUFs, coated and uncoated with PLA, for 80% of N release in water was up to 6 h at three different temperatures (4, 23, and 40 °C), compared to conventional urea fertilizer and commercial environmentally smart N (ESN) fertilizer. The releasing time of coated BCRUF for 80% N release in soil was up to 192 h (8 days). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that no new functional groups were found in the release solution, indicating no new chemical hazards generated. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests also verified that its thermal stability could be up to 160 °C. The microbe populations in the BCRUF pellets were reduced after the pelleting and drying processes in BCRUF fabrication, but a few bacteria can endure in the air-drying process. BCRUF pellets soaked in water for 4 days retained some bacteria. The BCRUF showed very promising characteristics to improve NUE and sustainability in agricultural production.https://journal.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-FASE-2024571Soil microbial communitybiocharcompostcontrolled-release nitrogen fertilizerpolylactic acidspray coating.
spellingShingle Robiul Islam RUBEL
Lin WEI
Salman ALANAZI
Abdulkarim ALDEKHAIL
Anne C. M. CIDREIRA
Xufei YANG
Sanjita WASTI
Samarthya BHAGIA
Xianhui ZHAO
Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
Soil microbial community
biochar
compost
controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer
polylactic acid
spray coating.
title Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
title_full Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
title_fullStr Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
title_full_unstemmed Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
title_short Biochar-compost-based controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
title_sort biochar compost based controlled release nitrogen fertilizer intended for an active microbial community
topic Soil microbial community
biochar
compost
controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer
polylactic acid
spray coating.
url https://journal.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/PDF/10.15302/J-FASE-2024571
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