Table 1.
Physico-chemical characteristics and elemental composition of biochar.
| Physicochemical Characteristics | Unit | Biochar (SB) |
|---|---|---|
| pH (1:20) | 6.49 ± 0.04 | |
| Electrical conductivity (EC) (1:20) | dS m−1 | 1.59 ± 0.03 |
| Cation exchange capacity (CEC) | Cmolc kg−1 | 86.90 ± 1.60 |
| Moisture | % | 3.36 ± 0.19 |
| Volatile matter | % | 17.32 ± 0.64 |
| Ash content | % | 21.82 ± 0.44 |
| Fixed carbon | % | 57.50 ± 1.50 |
| Conversion efficiency (yield) | % | 51.61 ± 0.13 |
| Surface area | m2 g−1 | 84.16 ± 2.11 |
| Nutritional Composition | ||
| Carbon (C) | % | 54.81 ± 0.40 |
| Hydrogen (H) | % | 2.56 ± 0.13 |
| Oxygen (O) | % | 19.92 ± 1.70 |
| Nitrogen (N) | % | 1.89 ± 0.01 |
| Phosphorus (P) | g kg−1 | 3.34 ± 0.62 |
| Potassium (K) | g kg−1 | 2.13 ± 0.48 |
| Calcium (Ca) | g kg−1 | 2.01 ± 0.26 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | g kg−1 | 7.86 ± 1.24 |
| Zinc (Zn) | mg kg−1 | 84.52 ± 4.27 |
| Iron (Fe) | mg kg−1 | 88.36 ± 3.38 |
| Manganese (Mn) | mg kg−1 | 81.54 ± 1.84 |
| Total Chromium (Cr) | µg kg−1 | 0.06 ± 0.03 |
The values are mean ± standard error (S.E.) (n = 3).