Osman, M. (2016). Using Biochar as a Soil Conditioner for Improving Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil, Nutritional Status and Wheat Yield Productivity. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7(9), 677-686. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40339
Mona Osman. "Using Biochar as a Soil Conditioner for Improving Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil, Nutritional Status and Wheat Yield Productivity". Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7, 9, 2016, 677-686. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40339
Osman, M. (2016). 'Using Biochar as a Soil Conditioner for Improving Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil, Nutritional Status and Wheat Yield Productivity', Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 7(9), pp. 677-686. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40339
Osman, M. Using Biochar as a Soil Conditioner for Improving Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil, Nutritional Status and Wheat Yield Productivity. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 2016; 7(9): 677-686. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2016.40339
Using Biochar as a Soil Conditioner for Improving Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil, Nutritional Status and Wheat Yield Productivity
Soil, Water and Environ. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
Two field experiments were carried out during two successive winter seasons 2014/2015 where wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L., CV. Giza 168) was cultivated in sandy soil under sprinkler irrigation system at Ismaillia Agric. Res. Station, ARC. Combined thoroughly mixed biochar , sulfur and organic materials (compost) as soil conditioner along with different rates of nitrogen and phosphorus comprising 18 treatments were applied in a split split design. Chemical properties of sandy soil as well as its nutrients availability, nutritional status, Apparent Nutrients Recovery Efficiency (ANRE) and wheat yield productivity were evaluated. Biochar was added with three rates 1, 2 and 4 ton fed-1. Nitrogen was applied with three rates 50%,75% and 100%, where phosphorus rates were 75% and 100% of the recommended dose for wheat. Soil pH was slightly decreased by increasing the rate of biochar application ,while the values of EC, O.M, CEC and availability of N, P and K nutrients increased significantly by increasing the rate of biochar amendment . The application of high rates of biochar along with high rates of both N and P significantly increased the availability of N, P and K as compared to control (without biochar) and other treatments. Similar results were obtained for both tested seasons. All applied treatments increasedsignificantly the total contents of macronutrient over control. Moreover, biochar application combined with N and P rates has a positive effect on plant growth and crop yields. The yield components increased gradually by increasing the rate of N and P application in presence of biochar as compared to control (without biochar), especially in case of the second rate of biochar (2 ton fed-1) along with the high rate of N and P (100%) from the recommended dose. Application of second rate of biochar (2 ton fed-1) in presence of high rate of N and P ( N3 combined with P2) significantly increased wheat straw and grains. This increase was higher than that existing in case of applying the high rate of biochar (4 ton fed-1) . On the other hand, the lowest straw and grains yield was recorded in case of the control treatment (without biochar), similar results were recorded for both tested seasons. Moreover, the calculation of Apparent Nutrients Recovery Efficiency values by wheat crop increased due to the presence of biochar as a soil conditioner as compared to control (without biochar) especially in presence of the second rate of biochar ( 2 ton fed-1).Finally, the obtained results indicate that blending biochar with organic materials (compost) along with sulfur in sandy soils prevents the loss of nutrients, improves the soil chemical properties , holds nutrients against leaching , increases the availability of nutrient to plants, increases nutrient use efficiency, maintains the surface sorption and increases the wheat yield productivity.