Investigation on the effect of peach trees pruned foliage biochar on soil propeties of winter rangelands (Case study: Aq qala, Golestan province)

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Ph.D candidate, Department of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland Management, College of Rangeland and Watershed Managemet, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Wood Technology, Faculty of Wood and Paper Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Soil nutrient deficiency is one of the main problems of arid and semi-arid rangeland soils in Iran. The use of soil conditioners can be one of the available solutions to improve soil quality of these lands. Application of biochar due to stability of this soil conditioner against microbial decomposition and its long durability causes an increase in soil organic matter, improves soil properties and increases forage quality of rangeland plants. Studies on the effects of biochar application on soil properties and plant growth have often been performed in tropical farms and acidic soils. In the present study, the effects of biochar produced at different temperatures from peach trees pruned foliage on silty-loam alkaline rangeland soil properties, which is an indicator of winter rangelands in Golestan province, are investigated.

Materials and Methods: Peach trees pruned foliage was prepared from gardens around Gorgan city and in the laboratory using a electric furnace at temperatures of 200, 300, 400 and 500 degrees centigrade, within one hour, various biochars were produced. Then, properties of produced biochars including pH, EC, organic carbon, total nitrogen, adsorbable phosphorus, exchangeable sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium were measured. Soil used in the present study was collected from the topsoil 0–15 cm at Mangali educational-research station located in the northwest of Aqqala city in Golestan province and some of its physical, chemical and biological properties were measured before being treated with biochar. The soil was treated with biochars produced at different temperatures (200, 300, 400 and 500 ° C) in four replications and incubated for 56 days. At the end of the incubation period, the soil of the pots was sampled and their chemical and biological properties were measured.

Results: The results demonstrated that the soil treated with biochar produced at 200°C had the lowest pH (8.1) and the soil treated with biochar produced at 500°C had the highest one (8.79). The highest and the lowest increase in the value of soil CEC, organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass and respiration was observed in the soil treated with biochar produced at 400°C and 200°C, respectively.
Conclusion: The use of peach trees pruned foliage biochar, which is produced at a temperature of 400 ° C, is recommended to improve the properties of alkaline soils in arid and semi-arid rangelands. Based our obtained results, the use of biochars produced at temperatures of 500 and 200 ° C is not recommended.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Water and Soil Conservation
Volume 28, Issue 2
October 2021
Pages 177-194

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