Effect of Carbonized Tangerines Prepared Using Plasma as Fertilizer: Case Study—Lettuce Farming

• Published in: Sustainability 2022-01, Vol.14 (1), p.243
• Main Authors: Moon, Soo-Young, Kim, Hyeon Soo, Jang, Daehee, Lee, Ji-Young
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Agricultural chemicals; Agricultural industry; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Biomass; Carbon sequestration; Case studies; Charcoal; Corn; Crop growth; Emissions; Environmental impact; Fertilizers; Food waste; Greenhouse gases; Heat resistance; Industrial plant emissions; Landfill; Methylene blue; Peat; Seeds; Soil conditioners; Soil investigations; Sustainability; Tangerines; Vegetables; Waste disposal
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su14010243

This study investigates the soil chemical changes and crop growth characteristics after treatment with carbonized tangerines prepared using plasma. To determine the effect of the carbonized tangerines on crop, four test plots were treated with chaff charcoal or different ratios of coco peat and carbonized tangerines. Lettuce was grown on the plots, and the chemical changes in soil and physical changes in the lettuce were observed. Chemical changes in the soil before and after the carbonized tangerine treatments were very similar to those before and after chaff charcoal treatment. Lettuce leaf length, width, weight, and count in carbonized tangerine-treated plots significantly increased than those in the untreated plot. Our results found that the carbonization of tangerines using plasma can be a good alternative for processing many by-products generated during cultivation. In addition, the possibility of using carbonized tangerines as biochar has been explored.