Biochar and swine wastewater: Effects on soil fertility of different textures and corn nutrition

ABSTRACT The use of organic waste in agriculture has stimulated the search for technologies that reduce environmental pollution. Among the residues are the biochar and swine wastewater (SW), which incorrectly disposed cause negative impacts, however, when combined, they can enhance agricultural production, due to the synergism between both. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the influence of doses of biochar, from conilon coffee straw, combined or not with swine wastewater diluted to 50% (SW50%), on the nutrient content in medium and clayey texture soils and in the corn plant tissue. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with five doses of biochar, two irrigation waters and two soils, with three repetitions. The pH, P, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Zn+2 and Na+ in the soil and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Na in plant were evaluated. The addition of biochar in doses linearly increased the levels of P and K+ in both soil textures, with synergy when irrigated with SW50%. The SW50% provided a nutrients increase in the corn plant tissue. The agricultural use of biochar from conilon coffee straw was important to increase the content of P and, mainly, K in the aerial part of corn.