Biochar and sugar cane filter cake interaction on physical and hydrological soil properties under tropical field conditions

Abstract

Biochar is known for its effects on carbon sequestration and soil fertility. However, there is a lack of information about its effects on soil physical and hydraulic properties for tropical soils. We assessed the effects of biochar (BC) plus sugar cane filter cake (FC) rate, and time of interaction on soil physical and hydraulic properties under humid tropical conditions. For this purpose, a field experiment was installed at a loamy sandy soil with five treatments and four replicates: control (only soil), 25 Mg ha −1 sugar cane filter cake, and 25 Mg ha −1 sugar cane filter cake plus 6.25, 12.5, and 25 Mg ha −1 Miscanthus biochar, respectively, two soil depths (0-10 and 10-20 cm) and two times of interaction (9 and 18 months). Physical properties (aggregate stability, bulk density, total porosity, pores size distribution) and hydraulic properties (soil water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, plant-available water holding capacity) were measured after nine and eighteen months. The bulk density decreased slightly, and the porosity increased after nine months, for the biochar plus sugar cane filter cake (both 25 Mg ha −1). After 18 months, biochar plus filter cake interaction increase micropores, aggregate stability, and plant-available water content. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was not influenced by sugar cane filter cake. However, biochar significantly reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity when combined with sugar cane filter cake after 18 months. We concluded that sugar cane filter cake in combination with biochar modified the pore size distribution, slightly increased plant-available water holding capacity, and significantly decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity.

The Impact of Sewage-Sludge- and Olive-Mill-Waste-Derived Biochar Amendments to Tomato Cultivation

“…According to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), biochar is a charcoal that can be applied to soil to offer both agricultural and environmental benefits [8]. Biochar has a strong impact on soil physical properties, altering soil structure, bulk density, porosity, macro-aggregate, and water content [9]. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment in agriculture [10], since it has the potential to improve soil fertility and quality [11], enhance crop productivity [12], and increase carbon and nutrient sequestration [13,14].…”

Soil water balance and wettability methods in soil treated with biochar and/or compost

“…Biochar is a solid porous material, rich in carbon content, with a large surface area and cation exchange capacity (CEC), produced from the pyrolysis process in an oxygen-limited environment (Hussain et al 2017). This material is a promisor for improving soil physical and hydraulic qualities such as soil structure, water retention, water available content, porosity, infiltration rate, bulk density, and hydraulic conductivity (de Jesus Duarte et al 2019;de Jesus Duarte et al 2020;Laird et al 2010, Herath et al 2013and Abrol et al 2016. Recent studies had proved that the incorporation of biochar with other organic amendments can maximize the potential benefits of soil properties (Izilan et al 2022).…”