Cattle bone derived biochar combined with phosphate solubilizing microorganisms as phosphorous fertilizer

Abstract

Agriculture is the Foundation of Pakistan’s economy_ and that sector is struggling. Phosphate is the most essential and limiting nutrient required for Plant growth. Fertilizer Sector invest huge amount on Chemical phosphate fertilizer production (DAP, TCP, SSP etc.) utilizing local phosphate rock deposits_ Phosphate rock is a source of heavy metal pollution of air, soil, water and food chain etc. While Biotechnology offers a cost effective and sustainable solution to mitigate these problems by utilizing low value Animal bone grist. Bone is a natural source which contain high phosphate calcium content (>30%) P2O5 and other essential nutrients, 100% pure and organic. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of biochar produced from cattle bones together with phosphate solubilizing bacteria as Bio-phosphate fertilizer. The Cattle bone biochar was produced at 850 ◦C for 20min under Ar inert atmosphere in a tube furnace. In the first phase of study Physiochemical- characterization of biochar was done ash content, moisture content, volatile matter, proximate analysis and the chemical characterization was achieved through SEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR analysis techniques. In the second phase of the study bacterial screening was performed for phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on four bacterial strains, two strains SPARC10 and HF43 showed clear phosphate solubilization zones around colonies and further these two strains were used to prepare 1-Liter of PSB liquid bioinoculant formulation and stored in refrigerator. In the third phase the efficacy of processed biochar along with microbial dose was evaluated on growth of maize plant in greenhouse trial. control group (T0), Biochar (T1), PSB Inoculation (T2), Biochar and PSB Inoculation (T3), Rock phosphate (T4), Di-ammonium phosphate (T5). Inoculation of PSB together with CB BC increased the Plant growth in terms of plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, shoot and root dry biomass, and total P uptake in maize plant compared to the other treatments. The combined use of PSB inoculant and CB-BC was more economical due to minimal cost and maximum returns. These results suggested that PSB inoculation along with CB-BC would be an appropriate substitute for chemical phosphate fertilizer application in sustainable agriculture systems