29 / 2015-11-21 02:21:00

The effect of biochar on the soil hydrophysical proporties

biochar,hydraulic conductivity,soil retention curve

This study was conducted at the experimental site of SAU-Nitra (Nitra-Malanta) in Nitra region of Slovakia (lat. 48°19´00´´; lon. 18°09´00´´) during March-October, 2014.The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biochar (BC) application on the soil hydrophysical properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention curve). Biochar used for the field experiment was produced from paper fiber sludge and grain husks (1:1 w/w) by pyrolysis at 550°C for 30 minutes. The biochar was incorporated into the soil (0-10 cm) before sowing the spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in spring 2014. The experiment consisted of 3 levels of biochar application 0, 10 and 20 t/ha (BC0, BC10, BC20) with 3 replicates to a loamy soil of 9 experimental plots (6x4m). The soil samples (3 replicates) were taken 53 days after biochar application from each experimental plot from the soil depth of 5-10 cm. Generally, application of biochar increased saturated hydraulic conductivity compared to the control. Application of 20 t/ha of biochar had significant effect on the saturated hydraulic conductivity. However, application of 10 and 20 t/ha of biochar had no significant effect on the soil moisture at different negative pressure water potential ϕp (p = 0, -1, -5.5, -20, -55, -100kPa).