Impact Of Biochar Research Articles

Short-Term Biochar Impacts on Crop Performance and Soil Quality in Arid Sandy Loam Soil

A two-year field study was conducted in sandy loam soil to evaluate the impacts of biochar on soil quality and the growth and yields of pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and sorghum–Sudan (Sorghum × drummondii). A wood-derived commercial biochar was applied at three rates to pinto bean (PB) and sorghum–Sudan (SS) plots. The biochar application rates applied annually for two years to PB plots were 0, 2.2, and 11.2 Mg ha−1, whereas the rates for SS plots were 0, 3.4, and 6.7 Mg ha−1. Crop growth and harvest parameters were evaluated. Assessed soil measurements included pH, electrical conductivity, available nutrients, soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil aggregates, and volumetric soil moisture content. The results showed no significant differences in plant growth parameters and yields over the two growing seasons for both PB and SS. Compared to the control treatment, the biochar at 11.2 Mg ha−1 in PB plots improved soil moisture retention after irrigation by 19% in the first year and 25% in the second year. The SOM in the SS plot at 6.7 Mg ha−1 biochar rate was higher (1.02%) compared to the control plot (0.82%), whereas a similar increase was not observed in the PB plot. Although biochar rates did not affect most of the soil measurements, there were significant changes in soil properties over time, regardless of biochar treatments: POXC increased in the PB and SS plots; SOM increased in the SS plot; and electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and most soil micronutrients decreased. This research was conducted over two years; the effects of biochar can persist for much longer, indicating the need for longer-term biochar field studies in arid agroecosystems.

Biochar Systems in Ghana

Biochar is a pyrolysed biomass, incorporated into soil for improvement of soil health. Biochar added to soils holds the potential of a triple-win for livelihoods, environment and the climate. In environments where a lot of biomass is generated and poses disposable challenges, biochar remains a viable alternative for solving both agronomic and environmental problems, especially in highly degraded soils. Considerable research into biochar over the years have indicated its potential to solve many environmental problems, however there is still lack of knowledge about specific aspects of biochar production and use. Also, a number of assertions related to the positive impact of biochar in agriculture have not been well explained scientifically and verified. In Ghana, research on biochar is recent and currently uncoordinated with research outputs not clearly documented and visible. There is the urgent need to review available information on biochar research outputs in Ghana and provide expert opinion on the feasibility of embedding the technology in specific farming systems. The aim of this paper is to present an in-depth review of biochar research in Ghana, as it relates to agriculture and environmental management. Challenges to the biochar technology, formulation, feedstock availability and adoption rates are discussed. There is wide array of potential feedstocks for biochar production from agricultural residues. The -l quantity of biochar application has pronounced effect on maize grain yield where 5 t ha -l significantly yielded more maize grain than 2.5 t ha . Soils amended with cocoa pod biochar increased maize grain yield by 56 % compared to un-amended soil. Biochar can contribute to improving crop productivity on smallholdings although its supply and value chains are not formalized and the product is unfamiliar in most farming communities. Policies that integrate biochar to sustainable intensification in agriculture is recommended.

Alleviation of Associated Drought and Salinity Stress' Detrimental Impacts on an Eggplant Cultivar ('Bonica F1') by Adding Biochar.

To investigate the impact of biochar on eggplant growth, physiology, and yield parameters under separate and associated drought and salt stress, a pot experiment was carried out. An eggplant variety ('Bonica F1') was exposed to one NaCl concentration (S1 = 300 mM), three irrigation regimes (FI: full irrigation; DI: deficit irrigation; ARD: alternate root-zone drying irrigation), and one dose of biochar (B1 = 6% by weight). Our findings demonstrated that associated drought and salt stress had a greater negative impact on 'Bonica F1' performance in comparison to single drought or salt stress. Whereas, adding biochar to the soil improved the ability of 'Bonica F1' to alleviate the single and associated effects of salt and drought stress. Moreover, in comparison to DI under salinity, biochar addition in ARD significantly increased plant height, aerial biomass, fruit number per plant, and mean fresh weight per fruit by 18.4%, 39.7%, 37.5%, and 36.3%, respectively. Furthermore, under limited and saline irrigation, photosynthetic rate (An), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs) declined. In addition, the interaction between ARD and biochar effectively restored the equilibrium between the plant chemical signal (ABA) and hydraulic signal (leaf water potential). As a result, mainly under salt stress, with ARD treatment, intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) and yield traits were much higher than those in DI. Overall, biochar in combination with ARD could be an efficient approach for preserving crop productivity.

Impact of biochar on the yield and nutritional quality of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) under drought stress.

Undeviating climatic instabilities have increased the incidents of drought. Crop performance and yield attributes of tomatoes are negatively affected by drought stress. Biochar is an organic amendment that can increase crop yield and nutritional value under water-deficient conditions by retaining water and providing nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other trace elements). The present study was designed to investigate the effects of biochar on tomato plant physiology, yield, and nutritional quality under deficit moisture regimes. Plants were subjected to two biochar levels (0.1% and 0.2%) and four moisture levels [100%, 70%, 60%, and 50% field capacities (FCs)]. Drought stress, especially 50D (50% FC), severely affected the plant morphology, physiology, yield, and fruit quality attributes. However, plants grown in biochar-amended soil showed significant increase in the studied attributes. Plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight of root, the number of fruits per plant, fruit fresh and dry weight, ash percent, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein, and lycopene contents were increased in plants grown in biochar-amended soil under control and drought stress. Biochar at 0.2% application rate depicted a more pronounced increment in the studied parameters than 0.1% and can save 30% water without compromising tomato crop yield and nutritional value. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of Biochar as a Soil Conditioner to Improve the Soil Properties of Saline Soil and Productivity of Tomato

Biochar increases crop yield, soil reliability, and carbon sequestration. This study examined how biochar affected soil properties and tomato yield in saline soil. The experiment was conducted in areas surrounding Khulna Agricultural University and in farmers’ fields close to Khulna, Bangladesh. The experiment’s layout was a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Tomato cultivation with eight treatments and three replications used biochar with the recommended fertilizer dose (RFD). Using biochar in saline soil significantly influenced tomato growth and yield character. Days after planting, plant height was dramatically impacted by various biochar treatment levels. The height of tomato plants ranged from 65.38 to 46.37 cm, yielding 49.23 tons per hectare. The experiments used biochar treatments to grow more tomatoes than traditional fertilizers and a control treatment. Compared with control treatments, biochar also changed the properties of salty soil after it was harvested. The soil’s pH is 6.51 and its particle density is highest at 2.65. The control treatments had the highest EC value, which was 2800, and the biochar application treatments had the lowest EC values. At 100 s/cm, the EC value made the soil 0.6 ppt saltier in the control treatment without biochar, but adding biochar made the soil 0.1 ppt less salty. The percentages of carbon, nitrogen, and organic matter were also the highest that they had been (1.88%, 1.073%, and 2.58%, respectively). The phosphorus concentration in the soil was 19.47 g/g after harvesting. The majority of K and S values used to treat salty soils are interchangeable. Significant changes in tomato growth, yield, and soil properties occurred when biochar was combined with recommended fertilizer doses and applied to saline soil for tomato cultivation.

The Impact of Nutshell Biochar on the Environment as an Alternative Fuel or as a Soil Amendment

Walnut, pistachio, and peanut nutshells were treated by pyrolysis to biochar and analyzed for their possible usage as fuels or soil fertilizers. All the samples were pyrolyzed to five different temperatures, i.e., 250 °C, 300 °C, 350 °C, 450 °C, and 550 °C. Proximate and elemental analyses were carried out for all the samples, as well as calorific value and stoichiometric analysis. For sample usage as a soil amendment, phytotoxicity testing was performed and the content of phenolics, flavonoids, tannin, juglone, and antioxidant activity were determined. To characterize the chemical composition of walnut, pistachio, and peanut shells, lignin, cellulose, holocellulose, hemicellulose, and extractives were determined. As a result, it was found that walnut shells and pistachio shells are best pyrolyzed at the temperature of 300 °C and peanut shells at the temperature of 550 °C for their use as alternative fuels. The highest measured net calorific value was in pistachio shells, which were biochar pyrolyzed at 550 °C, of 31.35 MJ kg-1. On the other hand, walnut biochar pyrolyzed at 550 °C had the highest ash share of 10.12% wt. For their use as soil fertilizers, peanut shells were the most suitable when pyrolyzed at 300 °C, walnut shells at 300 and 350 °C, and pistachio shells at 350 °C.

Application of Buffalo Manure and Biochar Improved growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

Buffalo manure and rice-husk biochar (hereafter refer to biochar) are known as organic materials that their application to soil can enhance growth and production of crops. The appropriate dose of these organic materials to increase growth and yield of soybean is yet studied particularly on the southeast coast of Timor-Leste. This study aimed to identify appropriate doses of buffalo manure and biochar for producing soybean. The experiment was delivered using a Split Plot Design factorial 3 × 3. The first factor was buffalo manure (K) consisted of three level treatments; K0 = 0 t/ha (control), K1 = 5 t/ha, K2 = 10 t/ ha, and the second factor were biochar (B) consisted of three level treatments; B0 = 0 t/ha (control), B1= 3 t/ha, and B2 = 6 t/ ha. Parameters investigated were soil pH, crop phenology, plant height, leaf and branch numbers, filled pods, seeds per pod, biomass production, yield and harvest index. Analysis of variance showed that biochar significantly increased pH level of the soil by 4.01% and 6.80% for 3 t/ha and 6 t/ha biochar, respectively, compared to the control (5.33). Application of buffalo manure and biochar did not affect crop phenology. There was buffalo manure x biochar interaction for plant height and the rests showed an independent positive impact on growth and yield of soybean. The application of buffalo manure at 5 t/ha, in general, did not affect growth and yield. Buffalo manure at the rate of 10 t/ha significantly increased filled pods per plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield and plant biomass production by 32.55%, 5.93%, 36.24% and 35.17%, respectively, compared to the controls. Application of biochar with 3 t/ha increased filled pods per plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield, plant biomass and HI by 10.64%, 1.70%, 10.47%, 7.51% and 2.94%, respectively, compared to the controls. These results showed positive impact of buffalo manure and biochar on growth, yield and yield components of soybean.

Changes in the Phosphate Regime of Soils in the Middle Taiga under the Impact of Biochar

Changes in the Phosphate Regime of Soils in the Middle Taiga under the Impact of Biochar

Impact of biochar on the fungal decay resistance of hemp-polylactic acid composites against wood basidiomycetes

Natural fibers reinforced composites represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymer-based materials. However, natural fibers are susceptible to fungal degradation which reduces the lifespan of the composites in use. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar (BC) on improving the resistance to fungal decay of polylactic acid (PLA) and hemp-PLA composites. The influence of incremental BC loadings (0, 5, 10, and 20 wt%) on physiological and morphological properties of the composites was evaluated. Weight loss, color stability, microscopic observations, and water contact angle measurements were performed during and after 5-months of exposure to white (Trametes Versicolor) and brown (Fomitopsis Betulina) rot fungi. We found that the addition of 10 wt% BC decreased the total weight loss in PLA and hemp-PLA composites by 93% and 34%, respectively in the case of exposure to white rot and by 66% and 83%, respectively in the case of exposure to brown rot as compared to neat PLA. BC addition improved the color stability of the composites. The color change in hemp-PLA samples loaded by 10 wt% of BC decreased by 44% and 37%, in the case of exposure to white and brown rots, respectively as compared to hemp-PLA reference. Moreover, samples containing BC (5 wt% and 10 wt%) had higher gloss after the decay test among all other samples. Micrographs revealed that white and brown rots invaded the surface of the composites at the beginning of the incubation period and then accessed the interior of the materials. Micro-cracks occurred in samples containing hemp fibers which enabled the fungi to invade the internal structure of the composites. At the same time, fungi grew on the surface of samples without hemp fibers except for PLA with 20% BC content which had a porous surface that allowed fungi to access the interior. The hydrophobicity of all samples increased during the first 3 months of the incubation and then decreased again by the end of the incubation as the surface of the composites started to be damaged. Our study provided a novel direction of BC as an organic additive in bio-composites. Uncovering the potential of BC in improving the resistance to fungal decay of natural fibers-reinforced composites paves the way for BC’s utilization as a renewable additive in various applications such as bio-based packaging materials.

Biochar as smart organic catalyst to regulate bacterial dynamics during food waste composting

The impact of wheat straw biochar (WSB) on bacterial dynamics succession during food waste (FW) composting was analyzed. Six treatments [0(T1), 2.5(T2), 5 (T3), 7.5 (T4), 10 (T5), and 15 %(T6)] dry weight WSB were used with FW and saw dust for composting. At the highest thermal peak at 59 ℃ in T6, the pH varied from 4.5 to 7.3, and electrical conductivity among the treatments varied from 1.2 to 2.0 mScm1. Firmicutes (25–97 %), Proteobacteria (8–45 %), and Bacteroidota (5–50 %) were among the dominate phyla of the treatments. Whereas, Bacillus (5–85 %), Limoslactobacillus (2–40 %), and Sphingobacterium (2–32 %) were highest among the identified genus in treatments but surprisingly Bacteroides was in greater abundance in the control treatments. Moreover, heatmap constructed with 35 various genera in all the treatments showed that Gammaproteobacterial genera contributed in large proportion after 42 days in T6. Additionally, a dynamic shift from Lactobacillus fermentum to higher abundance of Bacillus thermoamylovorans was reported on 42 days of FW composting. Biochar 15 % amendment can improve FW composting by influencing bacterial dynamics.

Treatment of Highway Stormwater Runoff Using Sustainable Biochar: A Review

Human activities and atmospheric deposits on highways have led to an increase of pollutants in highway stormwater runoff. The reduction of these pollutants to a minimum acceptance level has been a great subject of concern for the US Department of Transportation and US Environment Protection Agency. Researchers have investigated several methods; however, biochar utilization, an environmentally and economically favorable way for pollutant removal from highway stormwater runoff, has not been studied extensively. Biochar has been intensively used for soil improvement and water treatment. Its unique carbon structure, large surface area, and higher pore structure have made it a potential candidate for water retention and contaminant removal. This literature review focused on the removal of highway stormwater runoff pollutants such as suspended solids (dust, sludge, and leaves), heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Cu), nutrients (nitrate and phosphate), and organic contaminants (paraffin, nitrobenzene, and p-nitrotoluene) using biomass-derived biochar. This comprehensive literature review introduces biochar production and the effect of the production process operating temperature on biochar’s structure and performance. It also analyzes the impact and efficiency of biochar on pollutant removal and illustrates its potential in the treatment of highway stormwater runoff.

The use of biochar made from biomass and biosolids as a substrate for green infrastructure: A review

Biochar made from biomass and biosolids can be used in substrates suitable for urban green infrastructure, especially green roofs, green parking lots, and green walls. The properties of biochar depend on the feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. Biochar made from different feedstocks, e.g., sludges, biomass, food waste, wood, and plant residues, has different physicochemical properties that affect the availability of nutrients, absorption of pollutants and harmful gases, carbon sequestration, and improvement of pH of amended soil. This paper reviews and summarizes various feedstocks for biochar production, pyrolysis technology and conditions, and physicochemical properties of selected types of biochar. Since biochar has a positive influence on plant growth, fertilizer efficiency, and rainwater capture, showing its use as a stable organic component of the substrate is the main objective of this research paper. Conclusion of the review considers the usage of biochar as a substrate for green infrastructure in pursuance of its characteristics, limiting pollutants concentration, potential benefits and risks for the environment, water sources and occurring climate change. The review is based on the analysis of selected papers on existing research and case studies related to the use of biochar and the evaluation of the impact of biochar on the characteristics of growing medium.

Impact of maize straw biochar and tied‐ridge‐furrow rainwater harvesting on soil erosion and soil quality in a semiarid region

AbstractIn dryland areas, integrating biochar soil amendment with in situ rainwater harvesting systems may decrease soil erosion, improve soil quality, and increase crop productivity and yield. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maize straw biochar amendment and ridge‐furrow rainwater harvesting systems on run‐off, sediment yield and the physico‐chemical properties of a Calcic Cambisol soil in semiarid areas. The experiment was conducted on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) production land at the Anjiagou Catchment experimental station in Gansu province, China. The experimental layout was a split‐plot design with three replications. Biochar was applied at a rate of 0 and 30 t ha−1, respectively. The tillage treatments were flat planting, open‐ridging, and tied‐ridging (TR). Overall, the integration of maize straw biochar with TR decreased soil bulk density at 0–40 cm depth. Biochar application reduced run‐off by 37.8% and soil loss by 55.5% during alfalfa‐growing seasons compared to the control. In general, biochar addition increased soil total potassium, but the same effect was not observed for soil pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrating maize straw biochar and tillage systems to reduce soil erosion and improve soil quality for rainfed crop production in semiarid areas. Further studies on the effect of biochar‐tillage system interaction are warranted to improve soil conditions for plant growth and increase crop yield in dryland areas.

Meta Analysis on Yield Effect of Biochar for Staple Crops in China

In order to quantitatively evaluate the impact of biochar on the yield of staple crops in China, a total of 866 pairs of data from 116 published studies were collected. Meta analysis was used to quantitatively analyze the impact of biochar on the yield of staple crops in China and its influencing factors. Meanwhile, a structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to further explain the interaction among the factors. The results showed that compared with no biochar application, biochar application could improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil in the main grain fields and increase the yield of the main grain crops, with an average yield increase rate of 8.77%. Among them, when the pH of biochar was 7-8, the average yield increase rate was the highest, reaching 26.49%. When C/N<60, the average yield increase rate was 13.73%, which was significantly higher than that of C/N≥60. Applying biochar to acidic or neutral soil could give full play to its yield-increasing effect. When the amount of carbon applied was 10-20 t·hm-2, the average yield increase rate of wheat and corn was the highest. The average yield of rice was the highest when the amount of carbon was 15-25 t·hm-2. However, the yield-increasing rates of rice with different carbon application levels were similar, so it is possible to consider losing part of the yield and give consideration to the economic benefits by appropriate reduction. In addition, the yield-increasing effect of biochar decreased with the increase in application years, and generally the yield-increasing effect was not significant after three years. The SEM showed that the application amount of biochar not only directly affected the yield of staple crops but also indirectly affected the yield of staple crops by improving soil fertility, whereas biochar C/N and pH only affected the yield of staple crops by improving soil fertility. Therefore, in the future application of biochar, priority should be given to applying it to acidic or neutral soil with low fertility, and its C/N and pH should be controlled below 60 and 7-8, respectively. Soil conditions, biochar characteristics, and field management measures should be comprehensively considered to maximize the yield of staple crops. This research can provide scientific basis and theoretical basis for the popularization and rational application of biochar.

Impact of Biochar and Graphene as Additives on the Treatment Performances of a Green Wall Fed with Greywater

The treatment of greywater (GW, wastewater share excluding toilet flush) through green walls can be beneficial for urban areas, favouring the diffusion of urban vegetation and reducing potable water consumption. Multiple challenges hinder the treatment performance of green walls, including the composition of the filtering material, the number of levels—i.e., rows—and the age of the system. This study investigated graphene as an additive (5%v) to a filtering medium made of coconut fibre, perlite and biochar in an open-air green wall with pots arranged into three levels. The performance of GW treatment was quantified by comparing the physicochemical features of inflow and outflow samples collected weekly over two months. Samples were also collected at each level of the green wall, and the performance of two analogous systems different by age for three months were compared. The results showed that graphene did not significantly improve treatment performance, except for the first level (e.g., 48% vs. 15% for COD, 72% vs. 51% for TSS, with and without graphene respectively). Moreover, GW treatment mostly happened along the first two levels of the green wall, with marginal depletion (e.g., 15% vs. 7% for NH4+-N) after three months of operational time.

Effects of biochar on the degradation of organophosphate esters in sewage sludge aerobic composting.

In this study, the impact of biochar on the degradation of organophosphate esters (OPEs) during the aerobic composting of sewage sludge was investigated. Three treatments were conducted with different percentages of biochar in the compost, including 5 %, 10 %, and 20 %. The treatment with 10 % of biochar showed the longest thermophilic phase compared to that of 5 % and 20 % of biochar, which greatly promoted the decomposition of organic matter. In addition, the degradation rate of the hard-to-degrade chlorinated-OPEs was significantly increased by 10 % biochar, reaching to 57.2 %. Correspondingly, approximately 43.6 % of the total concentration of OPEs (Σ6OPEs) was eliminated in the presence of 10 % of biochar, which was higher than the treatments with 5 % and 20 % of biochar. Biochar significantly influenced the microbial community structure of compost, but the previously reported organophosphorus-degrading bacteria did not play a major role in the degradation of OPEs. The redox ability of the increased oxygen-containing functional groups such as quinone on the surface of biochar and the biochar-mediated electron transfer ability may play an essential role in the degradation of OPEs during the composting process.

Impacts of Biochar and Vermicompost Addition on Physicochemical Characteristics, Metal Availability, and Microbial Communities in Soil Contaminated with Potentially Toxic Elements

In the current work, the effects of biochar, vermicompost, as well as their combined application on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in soils contaminated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were investigated. In this regard, four treatments were performed; among them, treatment A served as a control without additive, treatment B with vermicompost (2%), treatment C with biochar (2%), and treatment D with biochar (2%) plus vermicompost (2%). In addition, the abundance and structure of the AOA and AOB amoA gene were measured using quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing. The relationships between the microbial community, physicochemical parameters, and CaCl2-extractable PTEs were analyzed using the Pearson correlation method. We found that adding biochar and vermicompost promoted the immobilization of PTEs and nitrogen biotransformation. The rational use of biochar and vermicompost is beneficial for the growth of bacterial and fungal communities in soils polluted by PTEs. AOA and AOB amoA genes were stimulated by biochar, vermicompost, and their combination, but their structure was hardly affected.

Is biochar a promising soil amendment to enhance perennial crop yield and soil quality in the tropics?

Soil quality improvement is crucial in tropical soils to enhance crop productivity. Organic matter incorporation is not a viable approach regarding perennials as it completely degrades within a year. Hence, biochar is a sustainable solution to boost crop productivity in the tropics. Biochar has been utilized in agriculture for decades due to its inherent properties that enhance the soil-mediated properties associated with soil fertility. The impact of biochar on tropical perennial intensive cropping systems has been understudied, possibly because of the high initial input demand. This paper highlights the facts related to soil chemical, physical, and biological property enhancement upon biochar incorporation relating to long-term impacts on perennial crops.

Impact of biochar on sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Impact of biochar on sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Effect of Biochar and FYM and its Interaction on Soil Health Indicator under the Salt Affected Soil

The exploration of using biochar in saline soils has garnered increasing interest in research. In the Kharif season of 2018, an experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science at Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The aim was to study the impact of biochar and farmyard manure (FYM) on crop yield and the physical and chemical aspects of saline soil. The soil used in the experiment was loamy sand with good drainage and a pH of 8.0 at a depth of 0-15 cm. The experiment followed a completely randomized design factorial. The treatments involved four levels of biochar (B1: 0 t ha-1, B2: 2.5 t ha-1, B3: 5 t ha-1, B4: 7.5 t ha-1) and three levels of FYM (F1: 0 t ha-1, F2: 5 t ha-1, F3: 10 t ha-1). The results revealed that the presence of biochar significantly affected the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil post-harvest. Notably, there was a notable decrease in soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) with the application of biochar at 7.5 t ha-1 (B4). Additionally, at this level (7.5 t ha-1), biochar enhanced the soil’s physical properties by reducing bulk density and improving water retention, comparable to the effects observed at 5 t ha-1. Moreover, a substantial increase was observed in organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and available NPK under the treatment F3 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1), which was on par with treatment F2 (FYM @ 5 t ha-1). Although there was a significant change in bacterial populations, no significant variation was observed in fungi and actinomycetes. In conclusion, the emerging body of knowledge supports the effectiveness of biochar addition in enhancing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of salt-affected soils.