COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF SUGARCANE BAGASSE-DERIVED BIOCHAR AND COMPOST ON PRODUCTIVITY OF ALKALINE SOIL

Abstract

The degradation of soil due to alkalinity is a key environmental factor that greatly influence the crop productivity and sustainability in arid and semiarid areas. Hence sustainable management of alkalinity-affected soils is important to meet the crops production demand of the world. Organic residues like compost and biochar have gained an importance as soil amendment due to their low cost and easy accessibility. In present study, sugarcane bagasse and its derived biochar, compost, modified biochar (with citric acid) and composite (of biochar with compost) were used as soil amendments to enhance the productivity of maize plants in an alkaline soil. Soil incubation experiment was performed lasting for 25 days in order to assess the effect of these amendments on soil properties. Incubation results showed that all the amendments significantly improved the soil physiochemical properties. Maximum increase in soil organic matter (9.37%) was recorded in compost-amended soil. All the treatments showed significant increase in the soil water holding capacity (65 – 84%) as compared to the control (48%). Pot experiments were also performed lasting for 34 days to further assess the effect of these amendments on the productivity of maize plants. The results showed significant effects of amendments on plant physiological parameters (fresh and dry weight, root, and plant length). Fresh weight of plants in all treatments were significantly higher (5.21 – 6.65 g) than control (3.51 g), except modified biochar. All the treatments except modified biochar showed significant increase in the plants dry biomass as compared to control. Soil treated with modified biochar showed significantly least effect on the enhancement of soil productivity and plant growth due to acidity of biochar. Results indicated that soils treated with compost and biochar have positive effects on the soil quality and plant growth, followed by biomass treated soil. Overall results of this study suggests that biochar and compost treatment should be an efficient option for enhancing productivity of alkaline soil.

Fath Ullah