Effects of poultry litter biochar on soil enzyme activities and tomato, pepper and lettuce plants growth

Abstract

Biochar application to soils is being considered as a means to sequester carbon (C) while concurrently improving soil functions. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine the effects of biochar from the pyrolysis poultry litter (PL) on the soil enzyme activities, organic matter content and growth of tomato, pepper and lettuce plants. In the experiment, the combination of 15.15.15 composite fertilizer with 0, 200, 400 and 600kg/da doses of PL biochar were applied into the clay loam soil. Compared to the control and chemical fertilizer alone, the soil organic matter was significantly increased after biochar amendments. β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, urease and arylsulphatase enzyme activities in soils were increased by the biochar applications significantly (P<0.05). Plant fresh and dry weight of tomato, pepper and lettuce plants were higher in 4kg/ha PL biochar treatment than in the other treatments. The results showed that PL biochar amendment to soils in the agricultural use increased yield of plants and enzyme activities with increasing soil organic matter content as well as improving soil properties.

Biochar and manure addition influenced soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities at eroded and depositional landscape positions

“…Soil microbes play a key role in decomposition of the organic matter via a variety of soil enzymes. Therefore, application of biochar and manure is a method of replenishing degraded soil health by improving the biological status of the soil, which usually implies an increase in microbial and enzyme activities (Akça & Namli, ; Albiach, Canet, Pomares, & Ingelmo, ; Burns et al, ; Francioli et al, ; Ouyang, Tang, Yu, & Zhang, ).…”

Influence of Biochar Application on Reduced Acidification of Sandy Soil, Increased Cation Exchange Capacity, and the Content of Available Forms of K, Mg, and P

“…The results from numerous tests have shown that biochars may increase the content of soil organic matter, and in particular extracted organic carbon [16]. In addition, they may increase the biomass of soil microorganisms and stimulate their enzymatic activity [12,17]. In the longer term, the beneficial effects of biochar application in the soil decide on its fertility and productivity.…”

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

“…Lehmann and Joseph (2012) have distinguished the term biochar from charcoal in that it is charred organic matter that is applied to soil not only to improve soil properties but also to promote soil remediation or other environmental services while the charcoal is used as fuel or source of heat, as a filter, as a reductant in iron-making or as a colouring agent in industry or art. 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.…”