Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Soil Science and Engineering , College of Agriculture, Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran
2
Department of Soil Science, and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
3
Department of Soil Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Considering that biochar is highly regarded as a soil conditioner, it is necessary to investigate its environmental effects and its effects on soil properties, including clay dispersion. Dispersion of clay in arid/semi-arid regions, in addition to destroying soil resources, causes environmental pollution and increases soil erosion. So, there is a need to overcome this problem with existing solutions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different levels (0, 1.5, and 3% wt) of cow manure biochar on spontaneously and mechanically dispersible clay and the mean-weight-diameter of aggregates (MWD) in two texturally different (clay loam and sandy loam) calcareous-soils 40, 80, and 120 days after application. Application of 3% biochar increased spontaneously dispersible clay by 4.2%, as well as the levels of 1.5% and 3% of biochar increased mechanically dispersible clay compared to that of the control by 4.3% and 30.8%, respectively.
The amount of mechanically and spontaneously dispersible clay increased over time. While the effect of soil texture on spontaneously dispersible clay was not significant, the amount of mechanically dispersible clay in the clay loam soil was 61.2% more than that of the sandy loam soil. Application of 1.5% and 3% of biochar decreased MWD by 24.2 and 20.6% in sandy loam and 16.5 and 13.6% in clay loam soils, respectively. The mentioned decrease in MWD caused increase in dispersible clay. The results can provide the necessary information regarding the effect of biochar on the amount of clay dispersion to recommend the use of biochar as a soil conditioner.
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