Biochar Amendment on Palm Oil Biomass: Effect on Physicochemical Properties and Fiber Degradation

Empty fruit bunch has a complex structure that is difficult to break during the composting process due to the high lignocellulose content that consists of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of biochar in physicochemical changes in empty fruit bunch (EFB) composting and determine the degradation of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose of empty fruit bunch fiber during the composting process. The composting sample consisted of EFB only, EFB + POME and EFB + POME + biochar. The mixture of EFB: POME: Biochar was prepared in the ratio of 10:1:5, respectively. Several parameters that need to measure consist of pH, electric conductivity (EC), moisture content, volatile solid (VS), carbon and nitrogen ratio (C/N), total phosphorus, and fiber to observe the behavior of composting process of empty fruit bunch. This parameter was examined in an environmental laboratory that was complete with a pH meter, YSI meter for electric conductivity, laboratory oven, and furnace 550 °C. The overall result obtained was the composting trend is quietly similar in pH, volatile solid, moisture content, total phosphorus, and C/N ratio. Electric conductivity and fiber show different profiles due to the different characteristics of composting with biochar and without biochar. Moreover, the composting rate in presence of biochar produces rapid compost due to it characteristics such as large porosity, large surface area, and favoring the microbial growth that increases the microbial activity. The presence of biochar in the composting process can produce effective compost and reduce the consumption time to stabilize the EFB product during the composting process.