Investigating the Effect of Palm Tree's Waste Biochar on Concentration of Elements, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), and Some Saline Soil's Physical Properties

Authors

10.22052/deej.2021.10.31.49

Abstract

Expanded abstracts
Introduction: Salinity is an important environmental stressor that affects plant growth. In saline soils, plants are subjected to some toxic ions and water shortages. Crop residues are considered major organic agricultural wastes that can be useful for the soil and the plants. Organic matter has positive effects on the soil's physical and chemical properties. Converting agricultural wastes to Biochar is an appropriate way to achieve a valuable amendment. Biochar is a carbon-rich decomposition-resistant product obtained by heating biomass in an oxygen-free chamber, being used for carbon sequestration by applying large amounts of carbon.
Moreover, as a highly stable residue in the soil, it has been proven to store atmospheric carbon for hundreds to millions of years. According to different studies' findings, the application of Biochar can increase the soil's water-holding capacity, microbial activity, and nutrient availability. However, its effect on soil properties depends on its source and the extent of its application.  As the dependency of Biochar's effects on saline soils' properties in such soils has been under-researched, this study attempted to investigate the effect of palm-tree residues' Biochar on the physical and chemical properties of saline soils.
 
Materials and Methods: the required Biochar was prepared from palm trees' residues at 500°C under limited oxygen conditions. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. Biochar was mixed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% rates with saline soils and incubated with humidity at field capacity for 90 days. Then, the samples were air-dried, and some physicochemical characteristics of the soil were determined. Moreover, the comparison of the means was performed using Duncan's test at a confidence level of 95%.
 
Results: The results showed that applying the Biochar obtained from palm trees to the soil significantly increased the soil's chemical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium while decreased the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and the sodium/potassium ratio. Moreover, while adding Biochar to the soil increased the porosity by 10% and reduced the bulk density by 4%, treatments did not significantly affect pH, available phosphorus, field capacity, and the soil's particle density. Furthermore, adding 2%, Biochar increased calcium concentration in soil by 2.08 times compared to that of the control treatment. It was also found that the changes in the soil's magnesium calcium were similar and that using more Biochar increased magnesium concentration by 2.88 times compared to what was observed in the control treatment (more than the control treatment). Therefore, the study's findings indicated that the available potassium concentration in soil increased significantly following the application of different biochar levels. It was also found that compared to the control treatment, the amount of potassium increased about 12.33 and 18.79 times, respectively, with an increase of bio-dates in 1.5 and 2% treatments. Moreover, the highest increase in sodium was related to applying a 2% biochar date, which was 49.35% more than that of the control treatment. Finally, using 2% biochar reduced the sodium adsorption ratio by 7.6%.
 
Discussion and Conclusion: This study showed that palm trees' Biochar improved some saline soil parameters such as SAR, organic matter, and nutrients. Increased EC is due to increased sodium as a destructive factor and other cations such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium as helpful plant nutrients. On the other hand, the sodium to potassium ratio was decreased. Moreover, it was suggested that the potassium was increased more than sodium, and that was why the index was improved. According to the study's findings, Biochar increased porosity due to its high specific surface area.
Moreover, using 2% biochar treatment increased the saline soil's organic carbon by approximately three times. Due to the Biochar's low specific gravity, it can be expected that the soil's density is decreased by applying Biochar in soil. However, the increase in Biochar did not significantly affect the soil's particle density, which is probably due to the low weight of biochar particles versus the high weight of the soil's minerals and the amount of Biochar applied. It seems that applying Biochar as an amendment can improve the saline soil's properties and that the size of biochar particles may have different effects on changing the soil's properties, which can be investigated in future researches.

Keywords

References

1. Azimzadeh, Y., Najafi, N., Amirlou, B. and Abdolmaleki A., 2017. Investigation of biochar characteristics produced from different biomass. chemical and soil fertility and plant nutrition, 15th iranian soil science congress. 28-30 August. Isfahan, Iran. 2. Azizi, M., Abdolzadeh, A., Mehrabanjobeni, P. and Sadeghipour, H., 2015. Effects of silicon application to increase salinity tolerance through reduction of oxidative stress in Festuca arundinacea. Rangeland, 9, 43-54. 3. Beheshti, M. and Alikhani, H, 2016. Changes in the quality of crop produced from straw and wheat straw during a slow pyrolysis process at various temperatures. Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 26 (2), 201-189. 4. Chan, K. Y., Van Zwieten, L., Meszaros, I., Downie, A. and Joseph, S., 2008. Using poultry litter biochars as soil amendments. Soil Research, 46(5), 437-444.‌ 5. Ding, Y., Liu, Y., Liu, S., Li, Z., Tan, X., Huang, X. and Zheng, B., 2016. Biochar to improve soil fertility. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 36(2), 36. 6. Dume, B., Berecha, G. and Tulu, S., 2015. Characterization of biochar produced at different temperatures and its effect on acidic nitosol of Jimma, southwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Soil Science, 10(2), 63-73. 7. Eastman, C.M., 2011. Soil physical characteristics of an Aeric Ochraqualf amended with biochar (Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University). 8. Głąb, T., Żabiński, A., Sadowska, U., Gondek, K., Kopeć, M., Mierzwa–Hersztek, M. and Tabor, S., 2018. Effects of co-composted maize, sewage sludge, and biochar mixtures on hydrological and physical qualities of sandy soil. Geoderma, 315, 27-35. 9. HE, L. L., Zhong, Z. K. and Yang, H. M. 2017. Effects on soil quality of biochar and straw amendment in conjunction with chemical fertilizers. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(3), 704-712.‌ 10. Jaafari, M., 2015. Saline soils in natural resources. Publications of Tehran University, Fourth Edition. 11. Jafari, M., Moameri, M., Jahantab, E. and Zargham, N., 2017. Effects of municipal solid waste compost and biochar on the phytoremediation potential of Bromus tomentellus Boiss. in greenhouse condition. Rangeland, 11, 194-206. 12. Jalali, F., Hakim Zadeh Ardakani, M. AS. and Sodaee Zadeh, H., 2016. The Effect of Different Chalk and Biochar Ratios on the Modification of a Sample of Salt and Alkali. Second National Conference on Sustainable Management of Soil and Environment Resources, 8-9 September. Kerman, Iran 150-141. 13. Khadem, A., Reyesi, F. and Besharati, H., 2018. The Impact of Corn biochar on the Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Two Clay and Sandy Calcareous Soils. Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production, 8, (1), 25-47. 14. Kang, S., Li, X., Fan, J. and Chang J., 2012. Characterization of hydrochars produced by hydrothermal carbonization of lignin, cellulose, D-xylose, and wood meal. Industrial & engineering chemistry research 51(26): 9023-9031. 15. Khademalhosseini, Z., Jafarian, Z., Roshan, V. and Ranjbar, G., 2018. Effect of water salinity on quantity and quality of biochemical characteristics of Mellissa officinallis L. Rangeland, 12, 370-379. 16. Laghari, M., Mirjat, M.S., Hu, Z., Fazal, S., Xiao, B., Hu, M., Chen, Z. and Guo, D., 2015. Effects of biochar application rate on sandy desert soil properties and sorghum growth. Catena, 135, 313-320. 17. Laird, D.A., Fleming, P., Davis, D.D., Horton, R., Wang, B. and Karlen, D.L., 2010. Impact of biochar amendments on the quality of a typical Midwestern agricultural soil. Geoderma, 158(3-4), 443-449. 18. Lal Arab, M., 2016. Biofuel and vermicompost effects on some soil chemical properties, yield and yield components of soybean. Thesis, Master of Soil Science. School of Agriculture. Mashhad Ferdowsi University. 19. Lehmann, J. and Joseph, S., 2009. Biochar for environmental management: science, technology and implementation, Taylor & Francis.‌ 20. Luo, C., Deng, Y., Inubushi, K., Liang, J., Zhu, S., Wei, Z., Guo, X. and Luo, X., 2018. Sludge Biochar Amendment and Alfalfa Revegetation Improve Soil Physicochemical Properties and Increase Diversity of Soil Microbes in Soils from a Rare Earth Element Mining Wasteland. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(5). 21. Mashayekhi, R., Imami, h. and Lakzian, A., 2017. Investigating the Impact of Biochar and Plant Barley on Some Soil Chemical Properties. First International Conference on Agricultural Science, Natural Resources, Rural Tourism and Medicinal Plants in Islamic Countries. 21 November, Mashhad, Iran. 22. Moradi, N., Rasouli Sedaghani, M, H. and Sepehr, A., 2018. Effect of type and amount of biochar on some soil characteristics and the usability of some nutrients in a calcareous soil. Water and Soil Journal (Agricultural Sciences and Technology), 31 (4), 1246_1232. 23. Mukherjee, A. and Lal, R., 2013. Biochar impacts on soil physical properties and greenhouse gas emissions. Agronomy, 3 (2), 313-339. 24. Najafi Ghiri, M., Boostani, H.R. and Mahmoodi, A.R., (2018). Effect of residues of three herbaceous and its biochar on some characteristics and status of potassium in a calcareous soil. Journal of Soil Science (Soil and Water Science), A, 32 (1), 26-35. 25. Nowroozi, M., Tabataba'i, S., H. Nuori, M.R. and Mottaghian, H.R., 2016. The short-term effects of leafy leafy leaves on moisture retaining in sandy loam soil. Journal of Soil and Water Resources Conservation, 6 (2), 149-137. 26. Olsen, S.R., Cole, C.V., Watanabe, F.S. and Dean, C.A., 1954. Estimation of available phosphorous in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. Soil Science Society of American Journal 21, 144-149. 27. Salami, A., Sepehri, A. and Akbarlo, M., 2016. Study of the effects of salinity stress on plants. Second National Congress (on the path to the development of agricultural science and natural resources). 11 May. Gorgan, Iran. 28. Schulz, H. and Glaser, B., 2012. Effects of biochar compared to organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality and plant growth in a greenhouse experiment. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 175(3), 410-422.‌ 29. Song, W. and Guo, M., 2012. Quality variations of poultry litter biochar generated at different pyrolysis temperatures. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 94: 138-145. 30. Streubel, J.D., Collins, H.P., Garcia-Perez, M., Tarara, J., Granatstein, D. and Kruger, C.E., 2011. Influence of contrasting biochar types on five soils at increasing rates of application. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 75(4), 1402-1413. 31. Vanaee, F., Karami, P., Joneydi Jafari, H. and Nabialahi, K., 2017. Simulation of soil organic carbon dynamic in meadow ecosystems under different management practices using CENTURY model. Rangeland, 10, 439-449. 32. Walkley, A. and Black, I.A., 1934. An examination of the degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science, 37: 29-38. 33. Xao, L., Yuan, G., Feng, L., Bi, D. and Wei, J. 2020. Soil properties and the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in response to reed (phragmites communis) biochar use in a salt-affected soil in the Yellow River Delta. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 303: 107124. 34. Xiaoqin, S., Dongli, S., Yuanhang, F., Hongde, W. and Lei, G., 2021. Three-dimensional fractal characteristics of soil pore structure and their relationships with hydraulic parameters in biochar-amended saline soil. Soil and Tillage Research, 205, 104809.
Desert Ecosystem Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 31
September 2021
Pages 85-94

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics