Effect of Biochar on Soil Properties and Organic Carbon Sink in Degraded Soil of Southern Guinea Savanna Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author EN designed the study, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author SMA managed the literature searches, analyses of the study performed the spectroscopy analysis and author CLAA managed the experimental process and author EN identified the species of plant. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The application of biochar on soil acidity and other physico‐chemical properties of soils in southern Ethiopia

“…This is due to the decrease in bulk density of the biochar amended soil ( Tejada and Gonzalez , ). These findings are in accordance with the recent research work by Nigussie and Kissi (), Ndor et al (), and Njoku et al (), who reported a decrease in soil bulk density after biochar additions, but increases in soil porosity and soil aeration. This may have a positive effect on root and microbial respiration.…”

Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)

“…A reduction in soil bulk density using similar rates of biochar application has been reported in other studies utilizing hardwood biochar (Ndor et al, 2015), wheat straw (Alburquerque et al, 2014); fronds of date palm (Khalifa and Yousef, 2015), and mixed feedstock obtained from prunnings of fruit trees (Castellini et al, 2015). The result of the current study tends to reaffirm the postulation of Atkinson et al (2010) that biochar could possibly be part of a long-term adaptation strategy, as it could affect soil physical properties like soil structure, soil bulk density, porosity, particle density and water storage capacity for sustainable agricultural productivity.…”

“…Researches on biochar are expanding rapidly not only because of its potential for carbon sequestration (Sohi and Shackley, 2009) but also for its several co-benefits as soil amendment, such as increase in crop yield (Akca and Namli, 2015), potential as a technology for immobilizing pollutants (Herath et al, 2015) and increasing soil fertility and nutrient retention in soils. Though previous researchers have really explored the potentials of biochar as soil amendments for agricultural production and improvement of soil quality (Ndor et al, 2015), research on accurate rate of biochar application on a degraded Ultisol and other soil types for specific arable crops is scanty and rather proceeding slowly. Furthermore, biochar"s effect is soil type dependent (Nelissen et al, 2015) and also, biochar effects on soil aggregation is dependent on soil and biochar types (Herath et al, 2013).…”

“…Current review of available literature of biochar in Nigeria indicates that nearly all the biochar research were potted/greenhouse experiments (Fagbenro et al, 2015;Onwuka et al, 2015). Ndor et al (2015) focused on the effect of biochar on soil properties and organic carbon sink in degraded soil of southern guinea savanna zone, Nigeria while Yilangai et al (2014) investigated the effect of biochar and crop yield on growth and yield of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentus Mill) in Jos, North central Nigeria. There is urgent need for long-term studies on biochar in field trials to better understand biochar effects and to investigate its behavior in different soil types under varying climatic settings thereby providing a framework information about their potential in improving soil quality and increasing crop productivity, as well as its resultant associated risks (if any).…”

Effect of Tectona Grandis Biochar on Soil Quality Enhancement and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L) in Highly-Weathered Nitisol, Southeastern Nigeria

“…Present review of available literature of biochar in Nigeria shows that nearly all the biochar research was potted/greenhouse experiments (Fagbenro et al, 2015;Onwuka et al, 2015). A group researcher focused on the effect of biochar on soil properties and organic carbon sink in degraded soil of southern guinea savanna zone, Nigeria while other researchers explored the influence of biochar and crop yield on growth and yield of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentus Mill) in Jos, North central Nigeria (Ndor et al, 2015;Yilangai et al, 2014).…”