Effect of Biochar Amendment on the Physicochemical Properties of Arid Soils and Enhancement of Plant Growth"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63359/x4m3h520Keywords:
biochar, desert soil, physical and chemical properties of soil, growth of fava bean, improving soil quality in arid regionsAbstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of treating arid soils with different concentrations of biochar (0%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 15%, and 30%, respectively) on the physicochemical properties of both uncultivated and broad bean-planted desert soils in an arid environment. The results showed that the 2% biochar treatment was the most effective in promoting vegetative growth in broad beans, exhibiting the highest average vegetative length (32.5 cm), number of leaves (13 leaves), and both fresh and dry biomass weights compared to the control. The higher concentrations (15% and 30%, respectively) showed a limited effect on growth, indicating an optimal biochar concentration for enhancing plant development. Regarding uncultivated soil, a significant improvement in field capacity was observed with increasing percentage of added charcoal, reaching 46% at a concentration of 30% compared to 9% in the control (T0 = 0%), reflecting the ability of charcoal to improve water retention due to its high porosity. Organic matter also recorded its highest value at treatment T5 (30%), at 27.8%. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) exhibited a non-linear pattern, decreasing sharply at intermediate concentrations and then rising again at T5 (30%). Results for both cultivated and uncultivated soils showed significant changes in nutrient concentrations. Ca and Mg concentrations increased markedly at higher concentrations, while K and Cl concentrations decreased in most treatments compared to the control (T0). Phosphorus recorded its highest value at treatment T5 (30%), reaching 96.02 µg/g soil in uncultivated soil and 282.8 µg/g soil in cultivated soil. Soil in the cultivated soil, indicating the ability of charcoal to enhance phosphorus release in the soil. This study confirms that the use of charcoal is an effective strategy for improving the properties of desert soils in arid land areas, and it also promotes plant growth in them.
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