Impact of greywater on germination and physiological responses of Triticum aestivum L. HD 2967 in soil amended with poultry biochar

Chemical fertilizers boost crop production; however, their continued use decreases soil fertility in the long run. Nutrient recycling by the beneficiation of poultry manure into biochar and application as a soil amendment is a long-term solution for plant nutrition. The effect of poultry manure, poultry biochar and crop irrigation with 50% and 100% greywater (GW) was assessed on soil properties and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. HD-2967) on the 7th and 14th day of sowing. This resulted in greater nutrients (OC, OM, C:N have values of 3.51%, 6.58%, and 16.52, respectively) in soil on the 14th day after sowing irrigated with 100% GW for soil and 10 g biochar amendments than manure. The germination and growth were boosted to 100% on day 6 after seed sowing soil and 5 g biochar. The maximum number of leaflets (4), rootlets (7) and shoot length (26.58 cm) was obtained for soil and 10 g biochar amendments with 100% GW on the 14th day of sowing. The significance of the work is that greywater and poultry biochar has been used for the irrigation of wheat as a step towards the management of both solid and liquid waste. Biochar being a potential adsorbent reduces the pollutant load of greywater while increasing the nutritive value of soil substratum and influencing plant growth. The findings could offer crucial knowledge for creating agronomic procedures to repurpose the nutrients in poultry manure and biochar to grow crops by adding value to waste and meeting the goal of bioeconomic sustainability.

Automated summary

Chemical fertilizers increase crop production in the short term but decrease soil fertility in the long run. Recycling nutrient-rich poultry manure into biochar and using it as a soil amendment, along with irrigation using greywater, can enhance soil properties and promote plant growth. This study demonstrated that applying poultry biochar and 100% greywater irrigation improved soil nutrient content and crop growth, highlighting the potential of biochar and greywater management for sustainable agriculture.