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Soil Rehabilitation Using Biochar from Nut Waste

Organization(s):Alwafa School
Country:Oman
Student(s):Aya Mahmoud Eissa Al-Zadjali Shatha bint Khalifa Khamis Al-Saadiy
Grade Level:Middle School (grades 6-8, ages 11-14)
GLOBE Member(s):Sheikha Almanwari
Contributors:rateel rafaa ali almaqbali leen hussein ali al sheyadi
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, Surface Temperature, Alkalinity, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity, Water Temperature, Water Transparency, Soil Characterization, Soil Fertility, Soil Infiltration, Soil Particle Density, Soil Particle Size Distribution, Soil Temperature, Soil pH
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-30
Since the discovery of biochar in the 1980s by soil scientists in the Amazon, research has increasingly focused on its role in improving soil quality and rehabilitating degraded soils. Biochar has emerged as a sustainable and effective option for enhancing soil health, increasing agricultural productivity, improving water quality, and reducing carbon emissions. Based on this background, the idea of our research study arose to produce biochar from nut waste and to investigate its effect on soil improvement and plant growth. The main objective of this research is to study the effect of biochar produced from nut waste on improving soil properties and plant growth. Several sub-objectives fall under this main goal, including: • Recycling nut waste to produce biochar. • Promoting sustainable soil and water management in the Sultanate of Oman. • Rehabilitating soil using biochar derived from nut waste. • Providing a greener and more sustainable future. • Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and replacing them with biochar. • Reducing carbon emissions. • Contributing to increased plant growth to achieve good food security. • Increasing agricultural productivity effectively. Based on these objectives, the research questions were formulated. The main research question is: • How can biochar produced from nut waste contribute to soil rehabilitation? This main question is further divided into the following sub-questions: • How does biochar contribute to healthy plant growth? • How does biochar improve soil properties? To answer these questions, an experimental approach was applied. The experiment was conducted on six (6) eggplant seedlings. Biochar derived from nut waste was added to the soil of one sample containing three eggplant seedlings, while the other sample, which also contained three seedlings, did not receive biochar and was irrigated with water only. Standard protocols related to water, air, and soil were applied, and plant growth was monitored. Soil and water samples were analyzed in the soil and water laboratories at Sultan Qaboos University to ensure the validity of the conclusions. The results showed that the soil amended with nut-waste biochar was more fertile than the soil irrigated with water only. This was evident from plant growth observations, as the plants treated with biochar exhibited increased height, a greater number of leaves and roots, and a larger leaf surface area. Laboratory analyses at the university confirmed these findings through nutrient content analysis. In addition, the biochar-amended soil retained water for a longer period and showed greater structural stability compared to soil containing water only, which was confirmed by moisture tests conducted at Sultan Qaboos University. Furthermore, the carbon content in the biochar-treated soil increased, as indicated by measurements of the carbon rate. Based on these findings, several recommendations were proposed, including: • Rehabilitating agricultural soils by adding biochar to improve growth conditions and productivity. • Using nut-waste biochar to improve soil structure and enhance water-holding capacity.



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