Paper Title
Biochar Characteristics Of Agricultural Crop Residues

Abstract
Converting agricultural crop residue such as sugarcane trash and rice straw to biochar being used as soil amendment could potentially improve soil conservation. In this study, selected physical and chemical properties of biochar produced from sugarcane and rice residues and their amendment effects on herbicide adsorption in soils were evaluated. Biochars were produced at 450oC and 750oC, respectively and were characterized for different properties. In general, sugarcane and rice residue biochars exhibited different elemental and molecular compositions. Charring at high temperature decreased N and S contents but increased P, K, Ca, and Mg. Increasing temperature also caused the loss of the surface structures of biochar. Soil treated with either sugarcane leave or bagasse char enhanced the adsorption capacity of atrazine, a common herbicide used in sugarcane production. Index Terms- Biochar, sugarcane, bagasse, rice, straw, atrazine adsorption.