The fifth Arab-American Frontiers symposium, November 2-4, 2017, Rabat, Morocco. The potential use of biochar to enhance soil properties and plant growth performance under arid environment Osama Mohawesh1*, Mohammad Aliedeh2 1Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, Karak 61710, Jordan 2Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mutah University, Karak 61710, Jordan *[email protected], [email protected]

What is Biochar? Biochar is a Biochar Experiments soil amendment with the potential to revolutionize soil management, biomass waste and carbon sequestration. Biochar’s properties make it an option for sustainable soil management, effective conversion of biomass to energy and long term Leachate N, P and K Plant growth and Plant growth, yield and sequestration of carbon. concentrations biomass nutrient content biomass nutrient content Biochar Characterization Soil pH, EC Soil pH, EC How is Biochar made? Characterization of Biochar is made by pyrolysis: biochar Olives Pruning Residues waste heating biomass (wood chips or Scanning electron microscope pellets, bark, manure, crop Broccoli Energy dispersive residues, etc.) with limited biomass waste 3.5 spectroscopy 3 oxygen. 2.5 2

K % K 1.5 1 0.5 • What does it do? 0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 Biochar has outstanding Time characteristics significant to 4 3.5 climate change and soil fertility. 3 Properties of the broccoli and olive biomass 2.5 - Improve soil nutrient and water o 2 waste biochar at 300-350 C. (Slow pyrolysis) % P 1.5 affinity. 1 0.5 - Reduced leaching of nitrogen. 0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 - Persistence: biochar is much Time more persistent in soil than any Conclusions other form of organic matter. - Plants yield and mineral content increased with biochar Biochar Production application. Organic waste Pyrolysis Biochar - Soil pH and EC were increased with the increasing the biochar levels. - This present study suggest that biochar can be used as a soil amendment; however, still several studies are needed to investigate the effect of biochar feedstock, pyrolysis conditions on different soil, climate and plants. Crushing and grinding Our Motivation: Toward a Sustainable Agriculture in Jordan Valley: Irrigation and Soil https://www.mutah.edu.jo/biochar-jo/index-2.html Management http://www.biochar-international.org/regional/Jordan