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Recently, biochar has shown to be an alternative to waste disposal and a source of nutrients, acting as a soil amendment. The effects of two types of biochar on soil properties and sugar beet production as well as potential for carbon (C) sequestration were evaluated: biochar produced from sewage sludge (SB) and biochar produced from a 1:1 mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (MB). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a sandy loam soil from the Brazilian savanna under treatments of MB applications at 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0%, SB application at 5.0%, and a conventional fertilization (CF) using lime and mineral fertilizers, with no fertilization as a control. After incubation for 45 d, seedlings were transplanted into each pot and cultivated for 55 d. Biochar characterization showed that pyrolysis reduced the biomass volume drastically, but concentrated the trace elements per unit of biochar weight. The MB treatments increased soil total C (by 27.8%) and pH (by 0.6), reduced the concentrations of nutrients, except for potassium (K), and chromium (Cr), and did not significantly alter lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations. Results of stable isotopes showed that all biochar treatments increased the total soil C stock and stability, suggesting a potential for application in C sequestration, and improved overall soil fertility. However, the biochar treatments also increased the concentrations of trace elements in the soil and plants. The sugar beet yields at 10.0% MB and 5.0% SB corresponded to 55% and 29% of the yield obtained in the CF treatment, respectively. These results may be due to biochar nutrients not being bioavailable when required by plants or to biochar nutrient adsorption.

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior The biomass pyrolysis process may be an alternative for the agricultural use of sewage sludge. This study aimed to evaluate the use of of biochars from mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (BB, 1:1 relationship sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse) on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production and nutrition. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with five application rates of BB: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% (v/v), and two additional treatments, biochar from sewage sludge (BS, application rate 5% (v/v)) and conventional treatment (CV) that received lime and mineral fertilizer. The treated soils were incubated for 45 days, after which, seedlings were cultivated for 55 days. Biochar produce from sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse is an alternative technology to reduce the potential for contamination of sewage sludge and to incorporate more stable carbon forms in the soil. Although, biochar has increased soil fertility, fine roots and nutrient uptake efficiency by sugar beet plants, total dry matter yield was significantly lower than that obtained in conventional treatment. O processo de pirólise da biomassa pode ser uma alternativa para o uso agrícola de lodo de esgoto. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o uso de biochar produzido a partir da mistura de lodo de esgoto e bagaço de cana (BB, 1:1 relação lodo de esgoto e e bagaço de cana) na produção e nutrição de beterraba (Beta vulgaris L.). Conduziu-se um experimento em casa de vegetação com cinco dose de BB: 0, 2,5, 5, 7,5 e 10% v/v, e dois tratamentos adicionais, biochar de lodo de esgoto (BS, 5% v/v) e tratamento convencional (CV) com calagem e fertilizantes minerais. Após 45 dias de incubação dos solos tratados, cultivou-se as plantas por 55 dias. O biochar produzido a partir de lodo de esgoto e bagaço de cana-de-açúcar é uma tecnologia alternativa para reduzir o potencial de contaminação do lodo de esgoto e incorporar formas mais estáveis de carbono ao solo. Embora o biochar tenha aumentado à fertilidade do solo, as raízes finas e a eficiência de absorção de nutrientes pelas plantas de beterraba, a produção de matéria seca total foi significativamente menor que a obtida no tratamento convencional.