Excessive overtime land application of poultry litter has been linked to eutrophication, pathogen contamination, nuisances, fish death, and other negative effects on human and animal health. Increment of production in the Delmarva Peninsula with all its challenges have therefore galvanized the need for more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable disposal technologies. Pyrolysis of poultry litter promises to produce nutrient-rich biochar while killing off any present microbes that would otherwise trigger negative environmental health effects. Poultry litter (PL) biochar has a number of distinguishing features such as higher nutrient content and higher cation exchange capacity (CEC). PL biochar retains positive aspects that all biochar and PL possesses. It can be applied as soil amendments to improve soil quality. The main objects of this research are to investigate how biochar production conditions such as temperature, different source of PL, different bedding material affect the final biochar yield, and properties of biochar. A few key properties were measured: pH, water holding capacity, bulk density, and pore volume, surface area. Morphology of poultry litter biochars were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). EDS materials analysis was used to determine Chemical elements in poultry litter biochars. Nutrient elements content and O/C ratio were studied. Greenhouse experiments will be used to evaluate the effects of biochar soil amendments on plant growth, plant vitality, and uptake. The comprehensive evaluation methods will evaluate the possibility, cost and environment impact of PL biochar as effective soil amendments for waste minimization, environmental protection, and plant growth.
