Biochar Application in Malaysian Sandy and Acid Sulfate Soils: Soil Amelioration Effects and Improved Crop Production over Two Cropping Seasons

Abstract

The use of biochar as an agricultural soil improvement was tested in acid sulfate and sandy soils from Malaysia, cropped with rice and corn. Malaysia has an abundance of waste rice husks that could be used to produce biochar. Rice husk biochar was produced in a gasifier at a local mill in Kelantan as well as in the laboratory using a controlled, specially designed, top lift up draft system (Belonio unit). Rice husk biochar was applied once to both soils at two doses (2% and 5%), in a pot set up that was carried out for two cropping seasons. Positive and significant crop yield effects were observed for both soils, biochars and crops. The yield effects varied with biochar type and dosage, with soil type and over the cropping seasons. The yield increases observed for the sandy soil were tentatively attributed to significant increases in plant-available water contents (from 4%-5% to 7%-8%). The yield effects in the acid sulfate soil were likely a consequence of a combination of (i) alleviation of plant root stress by aluminum (Ca/Al molar ratios significantly increased, from around 1 to 3-5) and (ii) increases in CEC. The agricultural benefits of rice husk biochar application to Malaysian soils holds promise for its future use.

Biochar from "Kon Tiki" flame curtain and other kilns: Effects of nutrient enrichment and kiln type on crop yield and soil chemistry

“…0001 ) than all of the 4% biochar treatments (hot nutrient enrichment, cold nutrient enrichment and non-enrichment) (Fig 3). This may be due to the fact that the addition of 4% biochar (corresponding to 80 t ha -1 ), is a too high dosage, as has been observed before [41]. The amendment of 4% biochar is perhaps not realistic from a field perspective either and may result in too large alterations in other soil properties (physical, biological).…”

Linking Soil Microbial Properties with Plant Performance in Acidic Tropical Soil Amended with Biochar

“…Enhanced maize growths upon biochar addition in the tropical soil have been reported in a controlled glasshouse [7] as well as in a field trial [30]. In fact, biochar effects on crops planted in this climatic region are found to be more profound from those tested in temperate regions [52].…”

“…The addition of pyrogenic organic matter has been documented to increase crop yield in different soil types in different climatic regions [3,4]. The amendment of biochar in the acidic weathered soil of the tropical humid region has been documented in many studies with an ameliorant effect of soil fertility [5,6] and improvement in plant productivity [7,8]. However, the study of soil microbiota in this soil upon biochar amendment is still poorly investigated in the humid tropics.…”

Reducing Acidity of Tropical Acid Soil to Improve Phosphorus Availability and Zea mays L. Productivity through Efficient Use of Chicken Litter Biochar and Triple Superphosphate

“…Phosphorus uptake in stems was higher in T4, T7, T10, and T11 than those of T1, T2, T5, T6, T9, and T12 ( Figure 4B) whereas P uptake in the maize plant roots of T3, T8, and T9 were not statistically different but higher than those of T1, T2, T4, T5, T6, T7, T10, T11, and T12 ( Figure 4C). This was because most of the P taken up in T2 were not translated into dry matter production compared with the treatments with CLB where most of the nutrients taken up were converted into dry matter yield [34]. Generally, total P uptake in T2 was similar to those of T4, T7, and T11 but significantly lower than that of T10 ( Figure 4D).…”