Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh
A body of emerging research shows the promise of charcoal soil amendments (“biochars”) in restoring fertility in degraded agricultural and forest soils. “Sustainable biochars” derived from locally produced waste biomass and produced near the application site are of particular interest. We tested the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/4/4/69 |
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| author | Md. Rezaul Karim Md Abdul Halim Nigel V. Gale Sean C. Thomas |
| author_facet | Md. Rezaul Karim Md Abdul Halim Nigel V. Gale Sean C. Thomas |
| author_sort | Md. Rezaul Karim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A body of emerging research shows the promise of charcoal soil amendments (“biochars”) in restoring fertility in degraded agricultural and forest soils. “Sustainable biochars” derived from locally produced waste biomass and produced near the application site are of particular interest. We tested the effects of surface applications of wood-derived biochars (applied at 7.5 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>) on soil physiochemical properties (N, P, K, pH, soil moisture content, organic matter content, and bulk density) in three land-use types: agriculture (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> monoculture), agroforestry (<i>C. sinensis</i> with shade trees), and secondary forest (<i>Dipterocarpus</i> dominated) assessed over seven months. We found significant positive effects of biochar on soil physiochemical properties in all land-use types, with the strongest responses in the most degraded tea monoculture sites. Although biochar had no significant effect on soil N and K, it improved soil P—the primary nutrient most commonly limiting in tropical soils. Biochar also enhanced soil moisture and organic matter content, reduced bulk density, and increased soil pH in monoculture sites. Our results support the general hypothesis that biochar can improve the fertility of degraded soils in agricultural and forest systems in Bangladesh and suggest that biochar additions may be of great benefit to the most degraded soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:31:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d85eb45715a4531befeab8e47fd80f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:31:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Soil Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d85eb45715a4531befeab8e47fd80f52023-11-20T22:33:40ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892020-11-01446910.3390/soilsystems4040069Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern BangladeshMd. Rezaul Karim0Md Abdul Halim1Nigel V. Gale2Sean C. Thomas3Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, BangladeshDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet 3114, BangladeshInstitute of Forestry and Conservation, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, CanadaInstitute of Forestry and Conservation, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, CanadaA body of emerging research shows the promise of charcoal soil amendments (“biochars”) in restoring fertility in degraded agricultural and forest soils. “Sustainable biochars” derived from locally produced waste biomass and produced near the application site are of particular interest. We tested the effects of surface applications of wood-derived biochars (applied at 7.5 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>) on soil physiochemical properties (N, P, K, pH, soil moisture content, organic matter content, and bulk density) in three land-use types: agriculture (<i>Camellia sinensis</i> monoculture), agroforestry (<i>C. sinensis</i> with shade trees), and secondary forest (<i>Dipterocarpus</i> dominated) assessed over seven months. We found significant positive effects of biochar on soil physiochemical properties in all land-use types, with the strongest responses in the most degraded tea monoculture sites. Although biochar had no significant effect on soil N and K, it improved soil P—the primary nutrient most commonly limiting in tropical soils. Biochar also enhanced soil moisture and organic matter content, reduced bulk density, and increased soil pH in monoculture sites. Our results support the general hypothesis that biochar can improve the fertility of degraded soils in agricultural and forest systems in Bangladesh and suggest that biochar additions may be of great benefit to the most degraded soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/4/4/69biocharnutrientssoil propertiesmanaged systemsforestsagroforests |
| spellingShingle | Md. Rezaul Karim Md Abdul Halim Nigel V. Gale Sean C. Thomas Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh Soil Systems biochar nutrients soil properties managed systems forests agroforests |
| title | Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh |
| title_full | Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh |
| title_short | Biochar Effects on Soil Physiochemical Properties in Degraded Managed Ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh |
| title_sort | biochar effects on soil physiochemical properties in degraded managed ecosystems in northeastern bangladesh |
| topic | biochar nutrients soil properties managed systems forests agroforests |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/4/4/69 |
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