Sustainable Soil Management in Alkaline Soils: The Role of Biochar and Organic Nitrogen in Enhancing Soil Fertility

Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Abdul Basir, Syed Tanveer Shah, Monsif Ur Rehman, Mehmood ul Hassan, Hongbing Zheng, Abdul Basit, Árpád Székely, Aftab Jamal (), Emanuele Radicetti, Yaser Hassan Dewir and Roberto Mancinelli ()
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Mushtaq Ahmad Khan: Department of Agriculture, University of Swabi Anbar Swabi, Swabi 23561, Pakistan
Abdul Basir: Department of Agriculture, University of Swabi Anbar Swabi, Swabi 23561, Pakistan
Syed Tanveer Shah: Department of Agriculture, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra 23100, Pakistan
Monsif Ur Rehman: Department of Agriculture, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra 23100, Pakistan
Mehmood ul Hassan: Department of Agriculture, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra 23100, Pakistan
Hongbing Zheng: College of Agronomy, Jinlin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Abdul Basit: Floricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Deagu 41566, Republic of Korea
Árpád Székely: Research Center for Irrigation and Water Management, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Anna-Liget Str. 35, 5540 Szarvas, Hungary
Aftab Jamal: Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan
Emanuele Radicetti: Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Yaser Hassan Dewir: Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Roberto Mancinelli: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis SNC, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Biochar (BC) serves a vital function in sequestering carbon, improving nutrient cycles, and boosting overall soil quality. This research explored the enhancement of the chemical and physical properties of soil (alkaline) using nitrogen and biochar (from organic and inorganic sources) in a semi-arid climate during the autumn seasons of 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. The study involved applying biochar at various rates (0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha⁻ 1 ) and nitrogen at different levels (0, 90, 120, and 150 kg ha⁻ 1 ) using urea, poultry manure (PM), and farmyard manure (FYM) as nitrogen sources, which were applied to the field in a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement. The application of biochar at the highest rate (30 t ha⁻ 1 ) resulted in a significant increase of over 120% in soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil moisture content (SMC). Additionally, it increased total soil nitrogen (STN) by 14.16% and mineral nitrogen (SMN) by 9.09%. In contrast, applying biochar at this rate reduced soil bulk density (SBD), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) by 28.52%, 3.38%, and 2.27%, respectively, compared to the control. Similarly, applying nitrogen at 150 kg ha⁻ 1 using FYM significantly improved SOC, SOM, SMC, and SBD. At the same rate, using PM as a nitrogen source enhanced STN and SMN while reducing soil pH and EC. In conclusion, this study shows that applying biochar at 30 t ha⁻ 1 combined with nitrogen at 150 kg ha⁻ 1 , sourced from either PM or FYM, offers great potential for improving soil fertility and promoting carbon sequestration in alkaline soils of semi-arid regions. These findings highlight the value of integrating BC and organic N sources for enhancing agroecosystem sustainability. Thus, this study provides a promising pathway to enhance soil quality, improve crop productivity, and support sustainable agricultural practices in challenging environments.

Keywords: soil fertility; electrical conductivity; soil organic carbon; farmyard manure; poultry manure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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