The Role of Biochar and Perlite in Improving some Physical Properties of Clay Loam and Sandy Loam Soil

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of soil sciences and Water Resources, College of Agriculture – the University of Diyala, where the experimental factors was the soil type factor (clay loam and sandy loam) and the soil conditioners agent by adding biochar at the level of 1 and 2% and symbolized by B1 and B2 and perlite at the level of 1 and 2% and symbol it has P1 and P2, and it was added according to the soil dry weight, with three replications, CRD design, and plastic tubes were used to incubate the treatments for 14 weeks. The results showed an increase in the water infiltration in the clay loam soil by an increase of 23% when using biochar ratios 1 and 2%, while the infiltration decreased in the sandy loam soil by a decrease of 16 and 31% when using biochar 1 and 2%, while the use of perlite in the proportions of 1 and 2% increased the infiltration. In the sandy loam soil. This applies to the saturated hydraulic conductivity values. The Bulk density soil decreased when using biochar ratios 1 and 2% in the clay loam soil with decrease rates of 13 and 26%, and it also decreased when using perlite ratios 1 and 2% with decrease rates of 10 and 13%, and it also decreased when using ratios 1 and 2% biochar with sandy loam soil with decrease rates of 11 and 17%. The soil porosity increased when 1 and 2% biochar was used in the clay loam soil with an increase of 15 and 7%, and it increased when 1 and 2% perlite was added in the same soil with an increase of 5 and 6%.