1- Department of Soil Science, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
2- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology ,mosaddeghi@iut.ac.ir
3- Department of Water Engineering and Rural Development, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology
4- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology
2- Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology ,
3- Department of Water Engineering and Rural Development, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology
4- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology
Abstract: (14 Views)
Background and Objective: Biochar, produced by the pyrolysis of organic residues in an oxygen-poor or oxygen-free condition, improves soil quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. However, little research has been conducted on the effect of biochar application in field conditions on water infiltration and soil hydraulic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of apple wood biochar on soil physical and chemical properties, water infiltration and soil hydraulic parameters in dryland thyme cultivation.
Methods: The effect of apple tree branch biochar application with three levels (0, 30, and 60 tons per hectare) on on soil physical and chemical properties, water infiltration, soil saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks and Kunsat), and macroscopic capillary length (λc) was studied in dryland cultivation of two thymus species in the Absard region of Damavand County. Unsaturated water infiltration into the soil was measured with a tension infiltrometer. The data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design with split plots over time (in two consecutive years).
Results: Biochar application improved the soil physical and chemical properties, by reducing bulk density (BD), increasing porosity (P), organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN), as well as enhanced water infiltration, Ks and Kunsat. Due to the beneficial effect of biochar on soil structure and organic matter, the highest soil permeability, Ks and Kunsat were observed in the 30 ton/ha biochar treatment. However, higher biochar application (60 ton/ha) resulted in a lower increase in soil infiltrability, Ks and Kunsat compared to the control, which could be related to the filling of soil pores by biochar particles and the intensification of soil hydrophobicity. Also, soil infiltrability and hydraulic parameters were significantly higher in the second year than in the first year, indicating that the effect of biochar treatments increases with time.
Conclusion: Economic rate of biochar application (i.e., 30 ton/ha) improved the soil and plant conditions in the region. Besides, the time resulted in better influence of biochar on soil infiltrability, structure and physical quality.
Methods: The effect of apple tree branch biochar application with three levels (0, 30, and 60 tons per hectare) on on soil physical and chemical properties, water infiltration, soil saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks and Kunsat), and macroscopic capillary length (λc) was studied in dryland cultivation of two thymus species in the Absard region of Damavand County. Unsaturated water infiltration into the soil was measured with a tension infiltrometer. The data were analyzed in a randomized complete block design with split plots over time (in two consecutive years).
Results: Biochar application improved the soil physical and chemical properties, by reducing bulk density (BD), increasing porosity (P), organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN), as well as enhanced water infiltration, Ks and Kunsat. Due to the beneficial effect of biochar on soil structure and organic matter, the highest soil permeability, Ks and Kunsat were observed in the 30 ton/ha biochar treatment. However, higher biochar application (60 ton/ha) resulted in a lower increase in soil infiltrability, Ks and Kunsat compared to the control, which could be related to the filling of soil pores by biochar particles and the intensification of soil hydrophobicity. Also, soil infiltrability and hydraulic parameters were significantly higher in the second year than in the first year, indicating that the effect of biochar treatments increases with time.
Conclusion: Economic rate of biochar application (i.e., 30 ton/ha) improved the soil and plant conditions in the region. Besides, the time resulted in better influence of biochar on soil infiltrability, structure and physical quality.
Keywords: Biochar, Macroscopic capillary length, Tension infiltrometer, Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.
Type of Article: Research |
Subject:
Plant water relations
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Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions by http://jspi.iut.ac.ir is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
