Water hyacinth conversion to biochar for soil nutrient enhancement in improving agricultural product

Yezbie Kassa; Agmas Amare; Tayachew Nega; Teferi Alem; Mohammed Gedefaw; Bilhate Chala; Bernhard Freyer; Beatriz Waldmann; Tarekegn Fentie; Tewodros Mulu; Taddesse Adgo; Gizachew Ayalew; Marelign Adugna; Dessie Tibebe

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-84729-x

Water hyacinth conversion to biochar for soil nutrient enhancement in improving agricultural product

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 13;15(1):1820. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-84729-x.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
² College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. agmas.amare@uog.edu.et.
³ Institutes of Technology, University of Gondar, P.O.BOX 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁴ College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Gondar, P. O. box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁵ University of Hohenheim, State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy (LA 740), Stuttgart, Germany.
⁶ College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P. O. box 176, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁷ The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU e.V.) |, Charitéstraße 3 10117, Berlin, Germany.
⁸ The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Ethiopia (NABU Ethiopia), Shimbit Kebele, Bahir Dar, P.O. Box 503, Tana Sub city, Ethiopia.
⁹ College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Debre Tabor University, P.O. Box 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
¹⁰ College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. dessie.1977@gmail.com.

Abstract

The conversion of water hyacinth into biochar offers a sustainable solution to mitigate its proliferation and enhances its potential as a soil amendment for agriculture. This study examined the physicochemical properties of water hyacinth biochar (WHBC) and its impact on soil fertility. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 40 minute with restricted airflow (2-3 m/s), producing biochar with desirable properties and a yield of 44.6%. WHBC exhibited a pH of 8.11 ± 0.91, electrical conductivity of 18.70 ± 1.15 mS/cm, and nutrient contents including TN (0.69 ± 0.10%), TP (8.80 ± 0.01%), OC (13.95 ± 0.65%), C/N ratio (20.22 ± 0.95), S (0.34 ± 0.03%), and metallic nutrients (Ca, Mg, K). Heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn) were within permissible limits for biochar. Soil amended with 2500 kg/ha WHBC (BC2) produced comparable Teff crop yields (fresh mass: 1191.67 ± 428.44 g, dry mass: 700.00 ± 248.34 g, grain yield: 95.00 ± 39.69 g) to those with mineral fertilizers and mixed amendments. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed significant structural changes in WHBC, enhancing its pore structure and surface morphology. These results demonstrate the potential of WHBC as an effective soil amendment to improve agricultural sustainability and soil fertility.

Keywords: Biochar; Carbon stability; Nutrient; Teff; Water hyacinth.

MeSH terms

Agriculture* / methods
Charcoal* / chemistry
Eichhornia* / metabolism
Fertilizers / analysis
Metals, Heavy / analysis
Nutrients / analysis
Soil* / chemistry

Substances

biochar
Charcoal
Soil
Metals, Heavy
Fertilizers