The effect of biochar and extract of organic fertilizer on the readiness of certain elements in the soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the second research station of the College of Agriculture, Al-Muthanna University, using a mixed soil. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of varying quantities of biochar and organic fertilizer extract on the availability of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) elements in the soil.The experimental design encompassed the incorporation of four distinct biochar levels (A0, 0%), (A1, 1.5%), (A2, 2%), and (A3, 2.5%), which were applied proportionally to the soil volume. Additionally, four levels of organic fertilizer extract (0, 20, 40, and 80) liters per hectare (B0, B1, B2, and B3) were implemented. A factorial experiment was employed inside a randomized complete block design (RCBD) framework, consisting of three replications.The means were subjected to a Least substantial Difference (LSD) test at a significance threshold of 0.05. The findings indicated substantial disparities between the application of biochar and organic fertilizer extract, as well as their interaction, in relation to the levels of accessible nitrogen in the soil.Moreover, notable disparities were observed regarding the incorporation of biochar and organic fertilizer extract in relation to the accessibility of phosphorus within the soil. Furthermore, the introduction of biochar and organic fertilizer extract, as well as the interplay between these two factors, exhibited a substantial impact on the availability of potassium within the soil. Furthermore, the use of charcoal and organic fertilizer extract had a notable impact on the accessibility of iron and zinc within the soil.