By-Products of Palm Trees and Their Applications Materials Research Forum LLC
Materials Research Proceedings 11 (2019) 159-168 doi: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644900178-11
Production of Biochar from Date Palm Fronds and its
Effects on Soil Properties
Mohamed A. Badawi
Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC, Egypt and General Manager, Emirates
Biofertilizers Factory, UAE
[email protected] Keywords: biochar, date palm wastes, soil conditioning
Abstract. The UAE has the largest number of date palm trees in the Arab world, there are about
42 million date palm trees. Each tree generates about 15 kilograms (kg) of waste biomass
annually, totaling 600 million kg of green waste. Converting date palm waste into biochar can
reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions generated by the natural
decomposition or through burning of the waste. Biomass produced from date palm trees can’t be
composted easily in normal composting process due to its high content of lignocellulose
compound, while the biochar production can be the option to generate both energy and soil
conditioner for the improvement of sandy soil under the gulf countries severe climate. Biochar is
one of the most stable biologically produced carbon sources that can be added to soil. It
processes agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that improves soil fertility, saves water, helps to
mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fight global warming. The United Arab Emirates
has sandy soil with very low water and nutrient holding capacities, using biochar improved its
soil WHC, and biological activities. In this paper we did several trials to evaluate the produced
biochar from date palm tree green wastes as a soil conditioner in sandy soil. Research has been
undertaken in a pilot plant of 200-liter capacity. The produced biochar (25% w/w) of raw
materials was used as a soil conditioner for sandy soil. The soil physical, chemical and biological
properties were tested in pot experiment with different mixing ratios and the results showed
better improvements in its properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biochar
and organic soil amendments on soil physicochemical and microbial load, carbon sequestration
potential.
Introduction
The topic of utilizing agricultural or forestry waste as co-products such as biochar has received
great interest from the scientific community.
Around the world, there are growing initiatives on finding strategies to encourage collection
of agricultural waste as new products in a logical and economical way to be used in other
applications rather than disposal in landfill.
Date palm trees in the UAE generate around 600000 tons of date fronds which is an
abundantly available agricultural waste and small percentage is economicaly used and recycled
as well as in many date producing countries. Date trees are cultivated in arid and semi-arid
regions and can thrive in long and hot summers, low rainfall and very low relative humidity [1].
About 105 million trees are available around the world covering over a million hectares. UAE is
one of the largest producers of date fruits with more than 42 million date palm trees and an
annual production rate of 770,000 tons of date fruits [2].
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sandy soil with very low water and nutrient holding
capacities.
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of
this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI. Published under license by Materials
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Materials Research Proceedings 11 (2019) 159-168 doi: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644900178-11
In these conditions, date palm is considered one of the most resilient crops in the region.
Over the years, with rising temperatures and scarce precipitation, there have been calls for
new ways to conserve water, improve soil properties and prevent nutrient loss to achieve future
food and nutrition security.
Biochar is a solid product produced from thermal conversion of unstable carbon-enriched
materials into stable carbon-enrichedcharred materials that can be incorporated into the soils as a
mean for agronomic or environmental management.
Biochar can be produced out of a long list of feedstock. Some of this raw materials can be
agricultural waste (wheat straw, nuts and coconuts shells, waste wood, etc.) biomass energy
crops (corn, cereals, wood pellets, palm oil, oilseed rape), bioenergy residues, compost (green
waste), animal manure (camel, chicken...), sewage sludge, etc [3].
The composition of biochar (content in carbon, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, etc) is directly
related on the feedstock used and the duration and temperature of pyrolysis.
At higher temperatures, biochar showed high particle density, high porosity but the bulk
density showed small differences between varying temperatures as shown in Table (1). However,
[4] stated that increasing pyrolysis temperatures produced high bulk density and an increase of
porosity for rice husk and empty fruit bunch biochars.
During the pyrolysis process, biomass porosity increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature.
This can be attributed to volatilization processes and the loss of organic compounds, which
creates more voids [5]. And found that particle density of wood derived biochar increased from
1344 kg/m3 to 1742 kg/m3 with an increase of pyrolysis temperature from 300 oC to 700 oC. [6]
also reported that the solid density of biochar prepared from sewage sludge increased with
increasing pyrolysis temperature while the bulk density decreased, as a result; the porosity
increased.
In 2012, the International Biochar Initiative defines biochar as ‘solid material obtained from
thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen limited environment [7]. Pyrolysis is an
industrialized thermochemical conversion process of biomass into biochar, syngas and bio-oil .
The yield of end products depends upon the temperature elevated in the pyrolysis.
Biochar has been produced with a range of pH values between 4 and 12, dependent upon the
feedstock and pyrolysis temperature[8].
Generally, low pyrolysis temperatures (< 400° C) yield acidic biochar, while increasing
pyrolysis temperatures produce alkaline biochar.
Once incorporated to the soil, surface oxidation occurs due to reactions of water, O2 and
various soil agents [8,9]. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of fresh biochar is typically very
low, but increases with time as the biochar ages in the presence of O2 and water [8,10,11].
Biochar is used as a soil amendment to improve soil nutrient status, C storage and/or filtration
of percolating soil water [12]. Biochar from pyrolysis and charcoal produced through natural
burning share key characteristics including long residence time in soils and a soil conditioning
effect [13]. Research has claimed that application of biochar can increase soil organic carbon
(SOC), improve the supply of nutrients to plants and therefor enhance plant growth and soil’s
physical, chemical, and biological properties [13,14].
Biochar can alter soil physical properties such as structure, pore size distribution and density,
with implications for soil aeration, water holding capacity, plant growth, and soil workability.
Consequently this may improve soil water and nutrient retention [15].
Biochar may increase the overall net soil surface area [16]; reduce soil bulk density which is
generally desirable for most plant growth [17].
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Biochar has a higher surface area and greater porosity relative to other types of soil organic
matter, and can therefore improve soil texture and aggregation, which improves water retention
in soil. Improved water holding capacity with biochar additions is most commonly observed in
coarse-textured or sandy soils [13,18].
Biochar has a higher sorption affinity for a range of organic and inorganic compounds, and
higher nutrient retention ability compared to other forms of soil organic matter [20,21] and [22-
24].
Previous analysis have shown that it is feasible to prepare biochar with relatively high BET
surface areas from date palm fronds, which is favorable for microbial communities to grow and
therefore enhancing fertility of the soils,. Biochar enhances soils. By converting agricultural
waste into a powerful soil enhancer that holds carbon and makes soils more fertile, we can boost
food security, discourage deforestation and preserve cropland diversity [25].
Biochar addition may increase soil microbial biomass (population size), and affect microbial
community structure (species present) and enzyme activities.
Australian researchers observed an increase in microbial biomass in the presence of poultry
litter biochar in a hard-setting soil growing radishes. While increased microbial biomass has
been observed, it has often been accompanied by a reduction in microbial activity, most probably
due to sorption of labile organics, nutrients, and enzymes on the biochar.
Biochar application has been shown to increase the rate of mycorrhizal fungal colonization in
roots, although it depends on the biochar, soil type and plant species.
There is growing evidence that biochar addition can reduce disease severity for several crop
species [26-29].
Materials and methods
Biochar preparation
A-Bench scale biochar preparation: Thermal decomposition of the biomass was carried out using
a bench-scale slow pyrolysis process in an oxygen deprived condition to convert the date fronds,
biomass into stable biochar. For each experiment, about 100 g of dry biomass sample were
placed in a ceramic dish and purged with nitrogen gas to provide a low-oxygen environment.
The container was covered with aluminium foil with two small vents allowing only the
evolved volatiles to escape.
The biomass was pyrolysed inside a muffle furnace. In this study, the evolved volatile was not
collected or quantified.
The pyrolysis temperature was increased to four terminal temperature levels (350, 450, 550
and 650 oC) and kept constant for a residence time of 2 h.
The biochar was cooled in the furnace to room temperature and then placed inside a
desiccator for 15 min.
The mass yield was obtained from the final weight of the biochar. The produced biochars are
named as BC 1, BC-2, BC 3, and BC4 , where BC and numbers denoting biochar and pyrolysis
temperatures, respectively.
Sandy soil was collected from Emirates bio farm, analysis is in table 1). Date palm tree waste
leaves, was collected from al Ain City, UAE. The waste was dried in air under sunshine and then
chopped to small pieces. Pyrolysis of the processed date palm waste was carried out in a closed
stainless steel container, at 350 0C were maintained for 4 h under a limited supply of air.
Feedstock samples were pyrolyzed to the desired temperature at the rate of 5◦C min−1.
The biochars produced were left to cool inside the furnace overnight.
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Characterization is an essential step to evaluate the physicochemical properties of biomass
prior to the pyrolysis process.
The biomass characterization was carried out by using proximate and ultimate analysis on dry
matter. Proximate analysis included the measurements of moisture content, ash content, volatile
matter and fixed carbon.
The moisture content was determined by measuring the loss in mass at 105 oC for 24 h. The
volatile matter content was measured by placing dry biomass inside a muffle furnace at 550 oC
for 6 h to measure mass loss due to volatilization of volatile components Black et al. [30].
Bulk density was determined according to Mudoga et al., (2008) method by filling a 10- ml
tube with dry adsorbent.
The tubes were capped, tamped to reach a constant volume by tapping on a table, and
weighed. Whereases, particle density was determined by using the method of volume
displacement according to Khanmohammadi et al., (2015) by using water instead of kerosene.
The pH of the biomass was measured by adding 1 g of powdered biomass to 20 mL of deionized
water (1:20) and heated to 90 oC with continuous stirring for 20 min and was subsequently
determined by using a pH meter. Soils: Soil physical and chemical analysis were done according
to [30].
Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were determined potentiometrically on a 1:2 soil mass-
to-water volume paste, Effect of biochar on sandy soil properties was carried out in 5 kg pots and
three replicates from each. Treatments include control, 1ton per hectare, two tons per hectare,
three tons per hectare and 4 tons per hectare was evaluated for 180 days.
Irrigation was performed on schedule to maintain the moisture content in the soil. Pots were
incubated at 280C in the green house, Periodical samples were taken after one week, 30 days, 60
days, 90 days and at the end of experiment at 180 days.
Soil samples were preapared and tested according to protocol followed by [30]
Table 1 criterial of materials used.
Materials Sandy soil Biochar
Water Holding Capacity, % 32.0 150.0
Cation Exchange Capacity 7.6 48.2
Organic matter 0.22 75.0
Organic carbon 0.12 43.6
Total nitrogen 0.12 1.12
C/N --- 38.9
pH 8.9 6.8
EC Ms/d 5.1 6.4
Total bacterial counts CFU, was measured using nutrient agar media, according to [31-32],
while potato dextrose media was used to measure the total fungi in respective order, according to
[32].
Results and discussion
Table (2) depicts the effects of pyrolysis temperature on mass yield, Biochar bulk density and pH
of the biochar were also studied.
The biochar was prepared by using a slow pyrolysis process under different temperatures
(350, 450, 550 and 650 oC) for 2 h. The results of the analysis indicated that the biochar bulk
density were affected by the pyrolysis temperature, and it decreased with increasing pyrolysis
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temperature e.g. from 0.53, 0.49, 0.48, and 0.47 g/l,. The biochar mass yield was inversely
proportional to the pyrolysis temperature.
The mass yields were 41.0 %, 31.8 %, 26.9 % and 22.6 % at temperatures (350, 450, 550 and
650 oC), respectively The pH of the biochar increased with the pyrolysis temperature, while the
bulk density decreased. Therefore, the biochar prepared from date seed had a highly porous
structure and thus it is expected to improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties [32-
34].
Table 2 Effect of temperature variations on biochar quality.
Treatment Temperature Biochar yield Bulck density pH
(oC) (%) g/l
BC 1 350 41.0 0.532 6.8
BC 2 450 31.8 0.498 7.2
BC 3 550 26.9 0.487 8.0
BC 4 650 22.6 0.471 8.9
The pH values of the biochar is shown in table 2. The values increased with the pyrolysis
temperature ranged from 6.8 to 8.9. These results were similar to other literature values that
indicate most of derived biochar are alkaline[33,37]. [37] found that the pH values of biochars
derived from wheat straw, wood, spruce and needle mixture ranged from 6.9 to 9.2, which
indicates a certain liming effect that may be achieved after biochar application.
The findings of [33] indicated that rice husk and empty fruit bunch derived biochars produced
at 300°C have acidic nature but that those produced at 650°C were alkaline. [38] stated that
biochar produced from canola straw, corn straw, peanut and soybean straws at different pyrolysis
temperatures had shown the alkalinity nature and pH of biochars increased with the pyrolysis
temperature.
Table 3 Periodical changes of organic carbon content in sandy soil amended with biochar
through 180 days.
Treatment Zero time 60 Days 120 Days 180 days
Control 0.14 0.13 0.13 0.09
Sandy soil + 0.20 0.18 0.17 0.17
1% biochar
Sandy soil + 0.27 0.25 0,24 0.24
2% biochar
Sandy soil + 0.35 0.34 0.33 0.31
3% biochar
Sandy soil + 0.42 0.40 0.39 0.38
4% biochar
In table (3). It is very clear that treatments recived biochar improved its organic matter content
compared to control and increased with increasing biochar content from 1% to 4% reaching
0.42% organic carbon compared to 0.14 in the control. During the incubation time it showed big
loss in the control treatment while organic carbon loss from treated soil was minimum. And this
is mainly because carbon is very low release carbon, and this won’t lead to carbon sequestration.
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Table 4 Periodical changes of Water holding capacity in sandy soil amended with biochar
through 180 days.
Treatment Zero time 60 Days 120 Days 180 days
Control 17.6 16.0 16.5 16.1
Sandy soil + 21.2 21.0 20.7 20.5
1% biochar
Sandy soil + 26.5 26.7 26.0 25.3
2% biochar
Sandy soil + 28.1 27.8 26.9 26.8
3% biochar
Sandy soil + 33.7 33.0 31.9 31.7
4% biochar
Table (4) depicted the water holding capacity of soil treated with biochar in comparison to
control.
All treatments received biochar showed water holding capacity improvement compared to
control and increasing biochar content increased water holding content values [37-39].
Table 5 Periodical changes of Total Plate Counts, TPC content in sandy soil amended with
biochar through 180 days, CFU/106.
Treatment 7 Days 60 Days 120 Days 180 days
Control 37.0 34.0 36.0 32.0
Sandy soil + 1% biochar 68.0 67.2 88.1 74.3
Sandy soil + 2% biochar 84.0 88.0 92.3 89.0
Sandy soil + 3% biochar 87.0 96.5 98.1 99.4
Sandy soil + 4% biochar 98.7 103.0 107.0 107.8
Table 6 Periodical changes of Total fungi colonies content in sandy soil amended with biochar
through 180 days, CFU/104.
Treatment 7 Days 60 Days 120 Days 180 days
Control 7.20 7.29 7.31 7.28
Sandy soil + 1% biochar 12.10 12.90 13.20 13.90
Sandy soil + 2% biochar 14.30 16.10 17.20 17.00
Sandy soil + 3% biochar 16.00 17.40 18.60 19.00
Sandy soil + 4% biochar 18.30 19.20 19.40 22.00
Table 5 and 6 describe the total bacterial population and total fungi population measured by
plate count technique in the soil amended with different rates of biochar from 1% till 4%.
Numbers of CFU increased with increasing dose of biochar applied in all treatments.
All treatments showed high microbial counts over control.
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Bacterial population was in the range of 32-37 milions bacteria in the control treatment while
increased sharply in all treatments reaching 107 millions micrope after 180 days.
Fungi population showed less numbers, e.g. control treatments showed 7X104, while for
treatments received biochar, the fungi numbers grown in the range of 12-22 millions X104. The
significant differences in bacteria, and fungi population were observed between biochar and
control [40-42].
Conclusion
BIOCHAR is an organic soil amendment which is rich in organic carbon. A significant percent
of the organic carbon is recalcitrant in nature. Recalcitrant organic carbon does not decompose
easily in soil & keeps performing long after soil application. This ensures long term soil fertility
unlike synthetic chemical fertilizers & other organic soil conditioners that only provide short
term benefits. Chemical fertilizers & other organic soil conditioners have to be replenished
regularly to ensure effectiveness. Biochar addition may increase soil microbial biomass
(population size), and affect microbial community structure (species present) and enzyme
activities.
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