Effects of the combination of biochar and organic fertilizer on soil properties and agronomic attributes of soybean (Glycine max L.)

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 19; no. 9; p. e0310221
• Main Authors: Ngui, Marianus Evarist, Lin, Yong-Hong, Wei, I-Lang, Wang, Chia-Chung, Xu, Ya-Zhen, Lin, Ying-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 19.09.2024
• Subjects: Acidic soils; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Agriculture - methods; Agronomy; Analysis; Bacteria; Biology and Life Sciences; Calcium; Charcoal; Chemical properties; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll - analysis; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Copper; Crop yield; Diseases and pests; Earth sciences; Ecology and environmental sciences; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Fertilizers; Fertilizers - analysis; Genetic aspects; Glycine max; Glycine max - growth & development; Growth; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leaves; Magnesium; Nodules; Organic fertilizers; Organic matter; Organic soils; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus - metabolism; Physical sciences; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Roots - growth & development; Potassium; Root nodules; Soil - chemistry; Soil amendment; Soil bacteria; Soil conditions; Soil conductivity; Soil fertility; Soil improvement; Soil investigations; Soil Microbiology; Soil microorganisms; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soybean; Soybeans; Zinc; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310221

This research aimed to investigate the impacts of a combination of rice husk biochar and organic fertilizer on the physical and chemical properties of soil, the population of soil bacteria, the relative chlorophyll content of leaves, the development of soybean root nodules, and yield components under strongly acid soil conditions. A greenhouse and pot experiment was designed using a randomize complete block design with factorial 2 × 3 treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments comprised two rates of biochar (35 and 70 g/pot) and three rates of organic fertilizer (70, 105, and 140 g/pot). After 100 days of amendment of strongly acidic soils, the results showed that application of treatments B35F70 and B70F140 increased soil pH by 16.80% compared to the control group (CK). On the other hand, treatments B35F140 and B70F105 resulted in an increase of soil electrical conductivity by 66.67% compared to CK. In addition, after 100 days of amendment with treatments B35F105, B35F105, B35F140, B70F105, B70F70, B70F70, and B35F140, organic matter, available phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), organic matter, available phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), significantly increased when compared to the control group (CK). Treatment B35F140 increased relative leaf chlorophyll content and soybean seed weight per plant by 60.76% and 100.56%, respectively when compared to the CK. Furthermore, treatment B35F70 produced 125% more root nodules than CK. Moreover, each amended strongly acid soil resulted with a significant upsurge in total soil bacteria compared to the CK. Overall, statistics proved that a combination of biochar and organic fertilizer improved soil properties and soybean agronomic attributes.