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Description
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced mainly from plant and animal biomass by thermochemical conversion. Soil amendment by biochar improves crop productivity mainly by increasing nutrient utilization efficiency and water retention capacity, as well as removing organic and inorganic contaminants from the soil.
The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of the reuse of treated wastewater in soil irrigation amended by conventional biochar on the growth and yield of a crop of arugula (Eruca sativa) grown in vegetative pots. Monitoring is carried out following the analysis of
the substrate and irrigation water (pH, %humidity, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total limestone, total nitrogen, salinity, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, heavy metals, and fecal contamination control germs, pathogenic bacteria (salmonella, Pseudomonas, and staphylococci). Different parameters of plant growth (such as stem height and diameter,
stomatal conductance, photosystem II activity, flowering period, and complete leaf expansion are monitored to assess the impact of biochar and wastewater on plant growth). Organic residues (stems and stubble, leaves, and pods) as well as sensory tests on fruits, primary and secondary metabolites, sugar, and antioxidants will be analyzed to assess the safety and quality of the products obtained).
Our results reported that biochar has a high water retention capacity, which is reflected positively in the growth of rocket seedlings, we observed good growth and a large number of leaves in treatments modified with biochar and irrigated with treated wastewater II.
The combination of biochar and secondary treated wastewater allowed to obtain very important nutrient contents for the rocket, this is what emerges from our results of physicochemical analyses of substrates after irrigation with treated wastewater II, where an increase in the percentage of organic matter, total organic carbon and total phosphorus is noted, especially in tests that contain biochar compared to others without biochar and irrigated with well water.
