Ali Yazdanpanahi; Khaled Ahmadaali; Salman Zare
Abstract
Biochar, as a soil reclamation material, has received attention by researchers during recent decades. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement in order to investigate the effect of natural and municipal waste compost biochars ...
Read More
Biochar, as a soil reclamation material, has received attention by researchers during recent decades. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement in order to investigate the effect of natural and municipal waste compost biochars on the chemical properties of sandy soils from Kashan's sand dunes. The experimental treatments consisted of natural and municipal waste compost biochar each with four levels (0, 1, 3 and 5%) with the total of 16 culture media. Chemical analysis was performed for soil, biochar, and for 16 culture media resulting from these combinations in three replications. The results of analysis of variance and comparing means of measured characteristics (EC, pH, Ca, Mg, K, and OM) showed that these characteristics were significantly affected by the different levels of natural biochars. Soil pH decreased in some treatments and treatment No 5 had the most pH reduction. Both biochar treatments increased soil EC, pH, Ca, Mg, and OM by 5.5, 3.9, 2.4, 1.9, and 3.7 times, respectively. In general, treatment No 13 (soil + 5% natural biochar + 5% municipal waste compost biochar) had the highest influence on soil characteristics. As a practical application, the use of studied biochars as sources of Ca, Mg, K, and OM can be considered in soil reclamation projects and fertilizer management.
Ali Yazdanpanahi; Khaled Ahmadaali; Salman Zare; Toraj Shabani Omran
Abstract
This study looked into the effect of different natural and urban waste compost biochar levels (0, 1, 3, and 5%), incorporated in sandy soil (total of 16 soil types), on the saturated hydraulic conductivity coefficient. For this purpose, the hydraulic conductivity of all 16 soil samples was determined ...
Read More
This study looked into the effect of different natural and urban waste compost biochar levels (0, 1, 3, and 5%), incorporated in sandy soil (total of 16 soil types), on the saturated hydraulic conductivity coefficient. For this purpose, the hydraulic conductivity of all 16 soil samples was determined using the constant head method. Then, for all soils, parameters of Van-Genuchten-Mualem (VGM) model for soil moisture characteristic curve (SMC) were determined by RETC and ROSETTA software and inverse modeling based on easily accessible parameters such as soil particle size percentage (sand, silt, and clay), bulk density, field capacity, and permanent wilting point. These parameters were soil residual water content (θr), soil saturated water content (θs), α, m, n and Ks. Results indicated that increasing biochars results in an increase in the Ks for all soils. Soil No. 11 (soil + 5% natural biochar + 1% urban waste compost biochar) and then soil No. 13 with 64 and 61% reduction, respectively, had the highest reduction percentage in Ks. The maximum and minimum value of Ks were 707.9 and 254.8 cmd-1 which were related to soil No. 1 and 11, respectively. All doses of biochars had a significant effect on all VGM parameters (P<0.01) and increasing biochars resulted in an increase in θr, n, and m and decrease in θs and α.
