Utilization of Palm Oil Midrib Biochar as Soil Amendment with a Newly Isolated Bacillus sp. SM11 for Growth Enhancement and Nitrate Reduction in Romaine Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia )

Sukhan Rattanaloeadnusorn, Nopparat Buddhakala and Thanasak Lomthong ()
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Sukhan Rattanaloeadnusorn: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand
Nopparat Buddhakala: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand
Thanasak Lomthong: Division of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Biochar is a carbon-rich material that enhances nutrient availability, soil quality, and microbial activity, improving plant growth and crop productivity. In this study, the palm oil midrib biochar (POMB) was used as a soil conditioner to improve the growth of romaine lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia ), together with a biofertilizer containing a newly isolated bacterial strain SM11. The newly isolated SM11 was closely related to Bacillus siamensis , with 99.77% similarity based on 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis. POMB treatment improved the fresh weight of romaine lettuce by up to 181.33 ± 1.15 g plant −1 , which is equivalent to 160.27% growth enhancement compared to the control without POMB. By comparison, POMB treatment with a biofertilizer containing SM11 increased fresh weight to 275.67 ± 11.59 g plant −1 with a growth enhancement of 295.68%. The addition of SM11 biofertilizer also protected against disease during cultivation. The addition of POMB reduced nitrate accumulation in romaine lettuce from 631.38 ± 0.36 to 223.31 ± 0.20 mg kg −1 by 59.08% compared to the control. This study suggests a way to manage agricultural waste from local palm oil plantations, thereby reducing waste accumulation and adding value to palm oil waste by-products for agricultural benefit through a biotechnological process.

Keywords: palm oil midrib biochar; soil amendment; biofertilizer; romaine lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia ); nitrate reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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