0023-6152

AA00697606

2232296

Sorghum distillery residue (SDR) was derived into sorghum distillery residue biochar (SDRBC) at carbonization temperatures of 300, 450, and 600˚C with the duration time at 0 and 60 min, in order to investigate physicochemical properties, fertility index, and seedling index in the seedling period and to evaluate the effect of the culture media containing SDRBC on the quality of vegetable plug seedling. The pH of SDRBC increased with the increase of carbonization temperature, but the electrical conductivity (EC) decreased as the carbonization temperature decreased. The cation exchange capacity of SDRBC was high when SDRBC prepared from the low carbonization temperature with 0 min. The C element content in various SDRBCs was 62.05–74.13%, increasing with carbonization temperature. The SDRBC with high carbonization temperature had a smaller O/C with hydrophilic and weaker polarity. The FTIR results of SDRBC with low carbonization temperature had C–H stretching vibration hydrophilic functional group at 2926 cm–1. The physical properties of the culture media containing SDRBC met the requirements for general perfect medium. The pH of chemical properties was 5.64–6.32, and the EC was 0.30–0.50 dS/m. The fertility index in the seedling period of the culture media containing SDRBC increased with the volume ratio of SDRBC and was higher than the peat with perlite, whereas the case without duration time (0 min) had higher seedling index (I) and (II) than the case with duration time for 60 min.