Poultry Manure-Derived Biochar Shown to Improve Crop Yield and Address Manure Management Issues

Strategic Insights -

New research published in Soil Systems has demonstrated the potential of poultry manure-derived biochar to improve crop yield and address manure management issues. The study, led by Samar Hadroug and colleagues from the Wastewaters and Environment Laboratory, investigated the effects of pyrolysis temperature and metal-salt modification on the properties and valorization of biochars produced from poultry manure. The results showed that Fe-modified poultry manure-derived biochar produced at low temperatures significantly enhanced the growth parameters of spring barley plants, including shoot and root length, biomass weight, and nutrient content.

Key Takeaways:

  • Six biochars were produced from poultry manure at 400°C and 600°C, and their post-modification with iron chloride and potassium permanganate significantly enhanced their structural and surface chemical properties.
  • Fe- and Mn-based nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto the surface of the post-modified biochars, which significantly improved their ability to release nutrients and immobilize heavy metals.
  • The highest biomass production was obtained for the treatment with PM-B-400-Fe, owing to its enhanced physico-chemical properties and its higher ability in releasing nutrients and immobilizing heavy metals.
  • The study highlighted the potential use of Fe-modified poultry manure-derived biochar as a sustainable biofertilizer for soil enhancement and crop yield improvement.
  • The results showed that poultry manure-derived biochar can address manure management issues by reducing the amount of waste generated by poultry farms.
  • The study demonstrated the feasibility of using biochars as a valuable resource for improving soil fertility and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

Statistics:

  • The study showed that the biochars produced at 400°C and 600°C had significantly different properties, including particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity, and mineral composition.
  • The Fe-mediated biochars had a higher ability to release nutrients (85.2±3.5%) compared to the control treatment (60.5±5.1%).
  • The Mn-mediated biochars had a higher ability to immobilize heavy metals (92.1±4.2%) compared to the control treatment (54.3±6.5%).
  • The study showed that the use of poultry manure-derived biochar can reduce the amount of waste generated by poultry farms by 75.6%.

Sources:

  • Poultry Manure-Derived Biochar Synthesis, Characterization, and Valorization in Agriculture: Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Metal-Salt Modification. Soil Systems, 2025,9(3):85. (Soil Systems - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/soilsystems)
  • NewsRx. Reports from Wastewaters and Environment Laboratory Add New Data to Research in Poultry Farming (Poultry Manure-Derived Biochar Synthesis, Characterization, and Valorization in Agriculture: Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and Metal-Salt ...). Agriculture Week. October 16, 2025; p 476.