413460

Ulva lactuca biochar: From sea to soil for enhancing sustainable agriculture

Article

Last updated: 25 Feb 2025

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Abstract

The adverse effects of chemical fertilizers on human health and environmental sustainability have driven a shift toward organic farming and sustainable soil amendments. Marine macroalgae, particularly Ulva lactuca, have gained attention as promising bioresources due to their rich biochemical composition and nutrient availability. This study explores the potential of U. lactuca-derived biochar and raw seaweed as soil amendments to enhance plant growth and physiological performance. Biochar was produced through slow pyrolysis at 450 ± 5°C under oxygen-limited conditions, yielding a material with low carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content but elevated pH, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) levels, similar to poultry manure biochar. A greenhouse experiment conducted in October 2023 evaluated the effects of raw U. lactuca at two application rates (SW1, SW2) and its derived biochar (BC1, BC2), both independently and in combination (BC1+SW1, BC1+SW2), on Pisum sativum L. seedling development. Growth parameters—including root depth, shoot length, fresh and dry biomass—and photosynthetic pigment concentrations (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids) were assessed 10 days after sowing. All treatments significantly improved seedling growth and pigment content compared to controls, with the highest biochar rate (BC2) and its combination with SW2 yielding the most pronounced effects. These findings highlight U. lactuca-derived biochar as a valuable organic soil amendment, particularly at higher application rates, with potential benefits for sustainable agriculture and crop productivity.

DOI

10.21608/egyjs.2025.357554.1041

Keywords

Ulva lactuca, Biochar, soil amendments, Sustainable agriculture, Photosynthetic pigments

Authors

First Name

Dorya

Last Name

Essa

MiddleName

Ismail

Affiliation

Microbiology, department, faculty of Science, Egypt

Email

doryaeasda1234@yahoo.com

City

Tanta

Orcid

-

First Name

Esraa

Last Name

Razzaky

MiddleName

Osama

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University

Email

esraa.osama@science.tanta.edu.eg

City

Tanta

Orcid

-

Volume

26

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

52145

Issue Date

2025-12-01

Receive Date

2025-02-02

Publish Date

2025-12-01

Page Start

48

Page End

60

Print ISSN

1110-8649

Online ISSN

2735-3826

Link

https://egyjs.journals.ekb.eg/article_413460.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=413460

Order

413,460

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,365

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Phycology

Publication Link

https://egyjs.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Ulva lactuca biochar: From sea to soil for enhancing sustainable agriculture

Details

Type

Article

Created At

25 Feb 2025