Sofia Vitsa

Project title: Dual-Function Engineered Biochar for excess soil phosphorus sorption with subsequent slow release for cost-effective and sustainable crop production.

Keywords: biochar, adsorption, co-precipitation, desorption, slow-release phosphorus, surface modification

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and can be supplemented with either organic or inorganic fertilizers. However, excessive use of P in agriculture results in P accumulation in soils, reduced soil fertility as well as degraded water quality due to leaching and runoff. Therefore, it is of great interest to explore more holistic and effective approaches to managing soil P, promoting efficient P use, and mitigating environmental problems.

The aim of this project is to develop a dual-function substrate that captures excess phosphorus from agricultural fields and act as a slow-release P fertilizer. Herein, engineered biochar will be produced as a template to capture phosphorus (P) and release it to meet the dynamic needs of plants (hereafter, duo-biochar). Biochar is a carbon-rich material and has an internal porous structure as well as a large surface area, resulting in high nutrient absorption capacity. It also improves soil quality, increases crop yield and nutrient uptake.

In the project plan is the development of duo-biochar functionalized with surface and internal pore networks with high surface potential for phosphorus absorption and co-precipitation and improvement of slow-release properties. It is also suggested to optimize the P release efficiency of duo-biochar to meet P needs during the growth of wheat and grass crops in greenhouse and field trials.

The research is conducted in collaboration with the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Auburn University, University of Delaware, New Mexico State University, and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Supervisor: Dr. David O’Connell