Evaluating Copper-Doped Biochar Composites for Improving Wheat Nutrition and Growth in Oxisols

Evaluating Copper-Doped Biochar Composites for Improving Wheat Nutrition and Growth in Oxisols

Copper (Cu) is a critical micronutrient for wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.), essential for growth and grain baking quality, yet its availability is limited because Cu is specifically adsorbed on colloids of highly weathered tropical soils like Oxisols. This study hypothesizes that Cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Loren Chisté, Carlos Alberto Silva, Flávio Henrique Silveira Rabêlo, Keiji Jindo, Leônidas Carrijo Azevedo Melo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Cu-doping
chemometrics
Cu release kinetics
ATR-FTIR
soil Cu availability
Cu adsorption in tropical soils
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/144
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Summary:Copper (Cu) is a critical micronutrient for wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.), essential for growth and grain baking quality, yet its availability is limited because Cu is specifically adsorbed on colloids of highly weathered tropical soils like Oxisols. This study hypothesizes that Cu-doped biochar composites can outperform traditional Cu fertilizers in improving wheat growth and Cu use efficiency. Composites were synthesized from chicken manure (FCM), shrimp shells (FSC), and sewage sludge (FSS), doped with copper sulfate (CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O) or copper oxide (CuO), and pyrolyzed at 300 °C or 550 °C. The experimental design involved greenhouse trials in two Oxisols (RYL and DRL), assessing Cu release kinetics, plant Cu uptake, and dry matter production. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed successful Cu integration. Results revealed that CSS/CS-5 (FSS + CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O at 550 °C) improved Cu uptake and shoot biomass in DRL soil, while CSC/CS-3 (FSC + CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O at 300 °C) enhanced wheat CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O growth in RYL soil. Peak Cu availability varied by CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O soil and composite type, with residual Cu highest CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O in CuSO<sub>4</sub>5H<sub>2</sub>O-treated soils. These findings demonstrate that Cu–biochar composites, tailored to soil conditions, offer a sustainable alternative to mineral Cu fertilizers by enhancing the nutrient availability and wheat grain yield.
ISSN:2073-4395

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