10.57647/ijrowa-2026-17240

Release of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium from Filter Cake, Filter Cake Biochar, and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in a Laboratory Study

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  • Daojarus Ketrot*1,
  • Sawarin Saribut2,
  • Anuthida Sombatcharoennon2,
  • Weerawan Peungyam1,
  • Karuna Poomsong1,
  • Rathanont Jaroenchasri1,
  • Worachart Wisawapipat1,
  1. Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
  2. Agricultural Chemistry Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Release of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium from Filter Cake, Filter Cake Biochar, and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in a Laboratory Study

Received: 2024-11-12

Revised: 2025-03-28

Accepted: 2025-07-28

Published in Issue 2026-03-31

Published Online: 2025-08-01

Copyright (c) -1 Daojarus Ketrot, Sawarin Saribut, Anuthida Sombatcharoennon, Weerawan Peungyam, Karuna Poomsong, Rathanont Jaroenchasri, Worachart Wisawapipat (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ketrot, D., Saribut, S., Sombatcharoennon, A., Peungyam, W., Poomsong, K., Jaroenchasri, R., & Wisawapipat, W. (2026). Release of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium from Filter Cake, Filter Cake Biochar, and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in a Laboratory Study. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.57647/ijrowa-2026-17240
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Abstract

Purpose: This study characterized the chemical components and nutrient release patterns of filter cake, filter cake biochar, and sugarcane bagasse ash—by-products of the sugarcane industry, a globally significant crop.

Method: The chemical composition of each material was analyzed, nutrient release kinetics were examined using water extraction during 336 h, and kinetic models were applied.

Results: The studied materials were rich in various elements and exhibited alkaline properties. Carbon and Si were the primary components, followed by Ca, Al, P, and K. All materials released substantial amounts of K and P, with minimal N release. Filter cake had the highest cumulative release of water-soluble P (7,701±87.4 mg/kg), followed by filter cake biochar (2,982±27.3 mg/kg) and sugarcane bagasse ash (1,194±3.66 mg/kg), representing 32.2%, 7.8%, and 21.7%, respectively, of total P. Conversely, the cumulative release of water-soluble K was highest in sugarcane bagasse ash (7,295±418 mg/kg), followed by filter cake (3,999±124 mg/kg) and filter cake biochar (2,312±107 mg/kg), accounting for 23.3%, 30.3%, and 11.0%, respectively, of total K. The nutrient release kinetics showed that the magnitude of release was controlled by the inherent elemental concentrations of each material and exhibited good fits with the Elovich and power function models (R² = 0.836–0.990 and 0.810–0.996). Nutrient release depended mainly on diffusion through heterogeneous and homogeneous surfaces.

Conclusion: These sugarcane by-products have the potential to improve soil fertility through nutrient releases. Transforming filter cake into biochar slows the initial release of nutrients while ensuring a more sustained and steady long-term release.

Highlight

·       Filter cake, its biochar and sugarcane bagasse ash are alkaline and rich in C and Si.

·       Filter cake releases the most water-soluble P among the three materials.

·       Sugarcane bagasse ash shows the highest cumulative release of water-soluble K.

·       Each material shows distinct nutrient release influencing agricultural use.

Biochar transformation of filter cake slows nutrient release for long-term use.

Keywords

  • Plant nutrient release,
  • Kinetic models,
  • Sugarcane by-products,
  • Press-mud,
  • Ash,
  • Biochar
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