A novel biochar-augmented enzymatic process for conversion of food waste to biofertilizers: Planting trial with leafy vegetable.

[Display omitted] • Novel biochar augmented enzymatic hydrolysis converted food waste to biofertilizers. • Composition of FW derived biofertilizers complied with Chinese national standards. • Quality of FW derived biofertilizers was field verified by leafy vegetable Pak Choi. • Application of FW derived biofertilizers didn't affect the soil chemical properties. • 361 kg CO 2 /1000 kg food waste could be eventually reduced with this novel approach. The present study developed a novel biochar-augmented enzymatic approach for fast conversion of food waste to solid and liquid biofertilizers. By augmented with 10 % of biochar and mediated with 5 % of food waste-derived hydrolytic enzymes mixture (i.e. fungal mash), 100 kg of food waste could be converted into 22.3 kg of solid biofertilizer with a water content of 30 % and 55.0 kg of liquid biofertilizer, which fulfilled Chinese national standards for solid and liquid organic biofertilizers, respectively. Field plantation results showed that the Pak Choi grown on food waste-derived biofertilizers was comparable with that on commercial ones, in terms of the vegetable productivity and nutrient contents. It was further revealed that the application of food waste-derived biofertilizers did not change soil chemical properties but enriched microbial diversity. This study clearly indicated that the biochar-augmented enzymatic approach for food waste conversion to biofertilizers was technically feasible and economically viable towards circular agriculture economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]