Biochar ameliorates oil and gas polluted soils and improves growth of Telfairia occidentalis

What is it about?

Gas flaring is a key contributor of greenhouse gases that causes global warming and climate change. This chapter assessed vegetable farmers’perception of gas flaring and the effect of biochar remediation on the heavy metal composition of cultivated Telfairia occidentalis. A gas-flared area, Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A of Imo State, and a non-gas-flared area, Umudike, Ikwuano L.G.A, were used for this research. The result revealed that 63% of vegetable farmers were female, while 37% were male in the gas-flared area. A total of 97% of the farmers knew that gas flaring had a negative effects on their soil and crops. When biochar was used for soil amelioration, the plant height of cultivated vegetables increased every 2 weeks with greater increase in the test plant. Heavy metal concentration (Pb, and Cr) decreased with increasing biochar rate and was significantly lower for 28.0 t ha_1. Biochar can enhance soil fertility and help immobilize heavy metals. The effect of biochar application on the metal composition is dependent on the rate of application. Biochar use could be a cheap adaptation measure in the face of a changing climate. Gas flaring is a key contributor to global warming and soil/water pollution. This book chapter assessed vegetable farmers’ perception of gas flaring and the effect of biochar remediation on the heavy metal composition of a cultivated vegetable - Telfairia occidentalis. The vegetable was also planted in one gas flared area and a non-gas flared area and its performance in the two locations was compared. Palm bunch biochar was applied as a remediation measure in the polluted area and there was a control (no remediation measure). A total of 97% of the farmers had knowledge of gas flaring. A total decrease of 55% percent income, 90% yield, and 67% market quality of vegetable farmers was attributed to gas-flared activities. The plant height of cultivated vegetables increased every 2 weeks with greater increase in the test plant. Heavy metal concentration (Pb, and Cr) decreased with increasing biochar rate and was significantly lower for 28.0 t ha−1. Biochar can enhance soil fertility and help immobilize heavy metals. The effect of biochar application on the heavy metal composition is dependent on the rate of application. Biochar use could be a cheap adaptation measure in the face of a changing climate

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Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash

Photo by Chris LeBoutillier on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Heavy metals found in oil polluted soils can be trapped by biochar. The removal of oil by biochar improves crop production. Heavy metal concentration (Pb, and Cr) decrease with increasing biochar rate.

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