Effects of Biochar Amendment on Soil Problems and Improving Rice Production under Salinity Conditions

Abstract

Soil with poor physio-chemical and biological properties prevent plant growth. These poor characteristics may be due to soil creation processes, but also include largely inappropriate agricultural practices and/or anthropogenic pollution. During the last 4 decades, the world has lost one-third of its cropland due to pollution and erosion. Therefore, a series of operations is required to improve and recover the soil. Biochar is a new multifunctional carbon material extensively used as a modifier to improve soil quality and crop production. Previous studies have discussed the properties of biochar with varying soil pollutants and their effects on soil productivity and carbon sequestration. Comparatively, little attention has been paid to the effects of biochar application on rice growth in the problem of soils, especially in the saline-sodic soils. A comprehensive review of the literature with a high focusing on the effects of biochar application on problem soils and rice-growing under salinity conditions is needed. The present review gives an overview of the soil's problem, biochar amendment effects on physicochemical properties of soil, and how the biochar amendment could interact in soil microbes and root with remediation under salinity conditions for improving rice productivity. The findings of this review showed that biochar application can improve soil quality, reduce soil's problem and increase rice production under salinity conditions. It is anticipated that further researches on the biochar amendment will increase our understanding of the interactions of biochar with soil components, accelerate our attempts on soil remediation, and improve rice production under salinity conditions.

Effects of Biochar and Ground Magnesium Limestone Application, with or without Bio-Fertilizer Addition, on Biochemical Properties of an Acid Sulfate Soil and Rice Yield

“…Combined application of the soil amendments has the potential of improving soil nutrient availability, with concomitant reduction of nutrient leaching loss. Other studies conducted elsewhere in the world came out with almost similar findings [13,57,58]. Of particular interest to the agronomists in Malaysia is the fact that RHB applied on acid sulfate soil in combination with bio-fertilizer fortified with beneficial bacteria can increase plant nutrient uptake and subsequently enhance the grain yield production of rice as well as its quality [59,60].…”

“…The application of GML or RHB in combination with bio-fertilizer is an excellent agronomic practice to enhance nutrient availability and plant uptake. The treatments will also increase microbial activities in the soils that affect rice growth positively [12,13].…”

“…Another way of overcoming the low fertility problem of acid sulfate soils is by the application of suitable organic matter [11,12]. Anwari et al [13] found that rice straw and rice husk found in abundance in many countries were able to enhance the growth of rice significantly. This finding is consistent with the result of an earlier study conducted by Sitio et al [14] and Karmakar et al [15] Additionally, rice husk biochar (RHB) has been found to enhance soil physical properties; besides, it increases soil pH, organic carbon and plant nutrients, but reduce heavy metals in the soil [16].…”

Acid-Modified Biochar Impacts on Soil Properties and Biochemical Characteristics of Crops Grown in Saline-Sodic Soils

“…Biochar (BC) is a new multifunctional carbon material that is widely used as an amendment for enhancing soil quality and plant productivity [11]. It is produced by the pyrolysis process in limited oxygen levels of different straw materials such as rice straw, cotton stalks, peanut hulls, grass and animal wastes, as found in [12,13].…”

Biochar Reduces the Adverse Effect of Saline Water on Soil Properties and Wheat Production Profitability

“…The results showed that saline water reduces all the physiological properties of wheat [27,28], while the biochar addition reduced the negative effects of salinity in both seasons and over seasons. Thus, saline water reduces plant growth but can be mitigated to a certain extent through biochar application [29].…”