Effect of wastewater sludge and sludge biochar addition to soils for biomass production from Hyparrhenia hirta

Mustafa K. Hossain, Vladimir Strezov, K. Yin Chan, Peter F. Nelson

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contribution

    Abstract

    In this work a pot trial was conducted to determine the nutritive quality and yield of coolatai grass using chromosol soil amended with wastewater sludge and sludge biochar. The aim of the study was to determine the performance of sludge biochar, comparing to unprocessed wastewater sludge, in production of coolatai grass as a potential forage and energy crop species. The results revealed higher ash content (5.6%) and lower calorific value (16.9 MJ/kg) of coolatai grass comparing to other wood and grass species. The application of biochar combination with fertiliser was found to have the highest effect on the yield producing more than double of the plant dry matter comparing to the unamended chromosol soil conditions. The combination of biochar and fertiliser treatment also increased some of the important chemical characteristics of coolatai grass, such as the metabolisable energy and crude protein composition compared to control, wastewater sludge and fertiliser treatments.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 1st South East Europe Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
    PublisherSDEWES Centre
    Pages1-8
    Number of pages8
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    EventSouth East European Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (1st : 2014) - Ohrid, Macedonia
    Duration: 29 Jun 20143 Jul 2014

    Conference

    ConferenceSouth East European Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (1st : 2014)
    CityOhrid, Macedonia
    Period29/06/143/07/14

    Keywords

    • Coolatai grass
    • Wastewater sludge
    • Biochar
    • Nutritive value

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