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Introduction
Nutrient deficiency of agricultural soils results to low food production contributing to global
issues on food insecurity. This problem roots from the excessive climate change throughout the
world and from too much use of synthetic fertilizers on farming. It has been predicted that over
the next two decades, crop yields of primary foods such as corn, rice and wheat will considerably
decrease as a result of warmer and drier climatic conditions particularly in semi-arid areas
(Brown and Funk, 2008).
While natural calamities brought about by climate change negatively affects soil fertility,
synthetic fertilizers degrade soil by providing nutrients directly on plants (Bruges, 2013). This
condition became one of the major concerns of the developing biochar technology.
Biochar is the solid remains from the carbonization of biomass. To produce this carbon-rich
product, pyrolysis or heating in a closed system with a limited supply of oxygen and controlled
temperature is employed. By products of this process include syngas (H 2 + CO), minor quantities
of methane (CH4), tars, organic acids and excess heat. It has many applications because it can be
used as fuel, as adsorbent and as soil conditioner.
Biochar has a great potential in soil amelioration. On ancient times, it was used by farmers
as fertilizer. Ancient Indian farmers made fertilizer by mixing charcoal and fish bones into their
fields and it showed that the soil is almost nine times more fertile than the natural soil. The
studies done on biochar as soil amendment have pointed out that biochar can improve soil
fertility, structure, nutrient availability and carbon sequestration (Roberts et al., 2010). This is
due to the fact that it can hold carbon in soils for hundreds and thousands of years and the carbon
present in biochar can resist degradation. Usage of biochar can help fight global warming by
stabilizing carbon. By doing so, the amount of carbon that hastens the thinning of ozone layer
can be minimized. Since biochar has a strong holding power, nutrients stay in the soil instead of
leaching to water thus, improving water quality.
Plants and crops supply majority of human and animal food worldwide. Plants can
synthesize whatever compounds they need. Virgin soil already contains enough amount of
nutrients required for proper plant nutrition, however plants could be exhausted of one or more
specific nutrients so another type of nutrients in the form of fertilizers are added. But as
fertilizers are essential to modern agriculture, overuse of them can bring harmful effects on
plants and crops, on soil quality, as well as on the health of the livestock and people.
Moreover, usage of fertilizers, specifically commercial fertilizers can pollute soils due to
large amount of metals they deposit in the soil. Heavy metals serve as plant nutrients but their
accumulation can cause toxicity. In addition, overuse of these can cause leaching of nutrients into
bodies of water that can lead to water pollution like eutrophication that kills life in bodies of
water. In line with this, it has been widely recognized that application of excessive inorganic
fertilizer, especially nitrogen, causes soil deterioration and many environmental problems (Liu et
al., 2010).
To address these problems on inorganic fertilizers, the most common solution is the
application of organic materials to soil. However, these materials can decompose very quickly
which entails further addition of organic matter. This makes addition of organic materials to soil
be done repeatedly that results to high cost. Furthermore, it is realized that the rapid
decomposition and mineralization of organic materials have a significant contribution to global
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warming (Jenkinson et al., 1991). Hence, it is proposed that integration of biochar to fertilizer
will lessen its application rate to soil.
Currently, 5.1 billion dry tons of agricultural wastes are produced globally (IEA, 2010).
Corn cobs are considered as one of the most abundant in these wastes. When harvested, they are
either left to dry on the farm after which they are burnt off or found littering the streets of market
places (Ogunjobi and Lajide, 2013). Meanwhile, biochar from corn cobs have seen potentials as
soil amendments due to their structural nature and properties. Thus, instead of allowing corn
cobs to contribute to environmental pollution and carbon emission through decomposition,
converting them to biochar, will be very useful in improving soil fertility by reducing the use of
fertilizers.
2. How do the properties of soil with and without biochar from corn cobs differ at
varying percentage of fertilizer (50,100) in terms of:
2.1 pH
2.2 Soil Organic Matter (SOM) or Carbon (C)
2.3 Nitrogen (N)
2.4 Phosphorus (P)
2.5 Neutral Ammonium Acetate Exchangeable (K, Mg, Ca)
2.6 Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
2.7 Carbon-Nitrogen Ratio (C/N)
3. Is there a significant difference on the aforementioned properties of soil before and
after harvest? Among the treatments with respect to their properties?
4. What are the effects of the biochar from corn cobs on the different percentage of
fertilizer on the growth of plant in terms of:
4.1 Number of leaves
4.2 Length of leaves
4.3 Plant height
4.4 Color of the leaves
after 15, 30, 45 days of planting?
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Null Hypotheses
1. There is no significant difference in the properties of soil with and without biochar
from corn cobs at varying percentage of fertilizer (50,100).
2. There is no significant difference on the properties of soil before and after harvest.
3. Application of biochar from corn cobs in soil at varying percentage of fertilizer has no
effect on the growth and yield of mustard after 15, 30, 45 days of planting.
already considered wastes will become useful by enriching the properties of soil and contributing
to plant growth.
To the academe, this research will provide additional information on biochar technology and
its potentials on soil amelioration.
To future researchers, they can use the findings of this study as basis for considering cheap
agricultural waste as biochar in the reduction of fertilizer application and improvement of
farming.
days of planting. A screen that will help to protect the plant from damages from weather changes
was also placed.
The results in the properties of soil and mustard growth were compared using statistical
analysis. Pests and diseases that affect the yield of mustard plants were not considered.
Conceptual Framework
This study was conducted based on the following conceptual paradigm.
INPUT
corn cobs
soil
commercial
fertilizer
PROCESS
OUTPUT
biochar
physicochemical analysis
of biochar
physicochemical
properties of
biochar
application of biochar
and fertilizer in soil
treated soil
physicochemical
properties of
treated soil
mustard plants
statistical results
physicochemical analysis
of treated soil
mustard seeds
Figure 1.1
Conceptual Paradigm of the Study
Definition of Terms
Ash Content. The mass of incombustible material remaining after burning a given coal
sample as a percentage of the original mass of the coal (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific &
Technical Terms, 2003). In this study, it refers to the percentage of ash in the biochar.
Carbonization. The process of converting feedstock into biochar through reductive
thermal processing. The process involves a combination of time, heat, and pressure exposure
factors that can vary between processors, equipment, and feedstocks. (International Biochar
Initiative, 2013). In this study, it is the process of converting corn cobs to biochar.
lower subsoil. The surface soil is sandy in texture (Chapter II, Ecological Profile of Mabini,
Batangas). In this study, it refers to the type of soil used in planting and applied with biochar.
Inorganic fertilizers. Fertilizers mined from mineral deposits with little processing (e.g.,
lime, potash, or phosphate rock), or industrially manufactured through chemical processes
(International Rice Research Institute, 2009). In this study, the inorganic fertilizer used is
Harvester Premium Complete 14-14-14-11s and Urea.
Moisture Content. The quantity of water in a mass of soil, sewage, sludge, or
screenings; expressed in percentage by weight of water in the mass (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of
Scientific & Technical Terms, 2003). In this study, it refers to the amount of moisture of the
biochar.
Number of leaves. In this study, it is one of the physical properties of pechay to be
monitored after 15, 30 and 45 days.
pH. A quantitative measure of the acidity or basicity of aqueous or other liquid solutions
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). In this study, it refers to the measure of acidity or basicity of
the biochar and treated soil.
Plant Height. The distance of the plants from the base to the apex of the plant (The
Lexicon Dictionary, 1992). In this study, it refers to the measurement of the plant from its bottom
to its highest point or apex.
Pyrolysis. The combustion of organic materials in the presence of little or no oxygen,
leading to the formation of carbon-rich char that is highly resistant to decomposition (Thies and
Rillig, 2009).
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Soil Organic Matter (SOM). The organic matter component of soil, consisting of plant
and animal residues at various stages of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil organisms, and
substances synthesized by soil organisms (Brady, N. C., and Weil, R.R., 1999). In this study, it
pertains to the property of the treated soil that will be determined.
Treatment. Any specified application of any particular practices which may be applied to
plants, soil and animal to bring about a change or to learn what may be beneficial or harmful
(Webster II New Riverside Dictionary, 1984). In this study, it refers to the application of the
different proportions of biochar and fertilizer to soil.
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