Abstract
To mitigate global climate change and simultaneously increase soil productivity, the use of biochar in agriculture can be a modern agro-technology that can help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing soil carbon sequestration, and ultimately increasing crop yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar and lime application on the chemical properties of acid soil and the emission of CO2. A 60-day incubation study was conducted with eleven treatments (T) in which two different biochar produced from rice husk (RHB) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFBB) at two rates (10 and 15 t ha−1) and on three rates of dolomitic limestone (100%, 75%, and 50%), recommended rate of NPK and a control (no amendment). The result showed that biochar and lime significantly increased soil pH, available P, and decreased exchangeable Al compared to the control. The pH increase was 44.02% compared to the control treatment on day 15, and the available P was found to be 22.44 mg kg−1 on day 30 from Treatment 7 (75% lime + 15 t ha−1 RHB). The cumulative CO2 emission from T7 was 207.40 μmol CO2 m−2 that decreased 139.41% compared to the control. Our findings conclude that RHB with 75% lime has more potential than EFBB to increase nutrient availability and reduce the emission of CO2 in acid soil.
Highlights
Accepted: 4 March 2021In many developing countries, soil acidification is a major problem because of crop production’s hindrance by intensive farming systems [1]
Our study showed that the soil pH increased signifiby adding biochar and lime to control
The co-application of biochar and lime showed a promising effect on nutrient availability and on reducing CO2 emission by increasing soil pH in acidic soils
Summary
Accepted: 4 March 2021In many developing countries, soil acidification is a major problem because of crop production’s hindrance by intensive farming systems [1]. 30% of ice-free land or 3950 million ha of the world’s land consists of acidic soils, and more than 50% of the world’s cultivable lands are under the influence of acidification [2]. Lime can increase Ca and Mg accessibility in soils [8]. Under no-tillage conditions, surface application of lime is the most appropriate way because lime applied on the surface does not alter the quality of soil which is proved in many previous types of research works [9]. Application of lime increases soil pH, availability of P, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation and decreases the concentration of Al [10]. Adding biochar converted from organic residues is an environmentally sound agronomic practice and acts as an ecological risk-free soil conditioner globally [11]. Biochar is a carbon-rich organic material that had gone through
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