Efficiency of Wheat Straw Biochar in Combination with Compost and Biogas Slurry for Enhancing Nutritional Status and Productivity of Soil and Plant

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the impact of different combinations of wheat straw biochar, compost and biogas slurry on maize growth, physiology, and nutritional status in less productive soils. The experiment was performed as a completely randomized block design in a greenhouse pot experiment. The compost and biogas slurry were applied with and without biochar. The results revealed that a combination of biochar, compost, and biogas slurry enhanced the cation exchange capacity (31%), carbon (83%), phosphorus (67%) and potassium (81%) contents in the soil. Likewise, a significant increase in soil microbial biomass carbon (15%) and nitrogen (37%) was noticed with the combined use of all organic amendments. Moreover, the combined application of biochar, compost and biogas slurry enhanced soil urease and β-glucosidase activity up to 96% and 67% over control respectively. In addition, plant height, chlorophyll content, water use efficiency and 1000-grain weight were also enhanced up to 54%, 90%, 53% and 21% respectively, with the combined use of all amendments. Here, biochar addition helped to reduce the nutrient losses of compost and biogas slurry as well. It is concluded that biochar application in combination with compost and biogas slurry could be a more sustainable, environment-friendly and cost-effective approach, particularly for less fertile soils.

Morphological and elemental evaluation of biochar through analytical techniques and its combined effect along with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on Vicia faba L. under induced drought stress

“…Biochar is an organic material produced by the combustion of carbon‐based raw materials (biomass) with low oxygen availability, which has a high amount of carbon that is used specifically to modify the natural conditions of the soil (Fahad et al, 2015). The characteristic properties of biochar having porous nature, presence of phyto‐nutrients, large surface area, and the ability to provide habitat for microorganisms has been declared as the main motives for improving soil properties and increase in the nutrient absorption capacity by plants (Abbas et al, 2020). In the present study, the effect of PGPR and biochar has been studied on germination and vegetative aspects of Vicia faba under induced drought stress.…”

Designing Synergistic Biostimulants Formulation Containing Autochthonous Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria for Sustainable Wheat Production

“…ZW32, and ZW9). The BC was obtained from wheat straw by pyrolysis in an automated furnace at 350°C with a resident time of 1 h and at a constant heat rate, i.e., 10°C min −1 (Abbas et al, 2020 ). The CM was derived from cow dung together with nitrogen-rich plant material and was obtained from Microbial Ecology Lab (NIBGE, Pakistan).…”

Overview of the use of biochar from main cereals to stimulate plant growth

“…Wheat straw biochar can also be used in combination with other resources ( Table 1 ). In maize plants, wheat straw biochar together with compost and biogas slurry, significantly increased plant height, chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, and grain weight, due to an increase in P, K, N and microbial biomass in the soil ( Abbas et al, 2020 ). When applied together with ammonium nitrate, this biochar increased N content and enzyme activities in the soil, improving the height, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and N, P, Fe, and K accumulation in Carya illinoinensis (pecan; Hou et al, 2020 ).…”