Effects of Different Rates of Sugarcane Biochar on Amelioration of Adverse Salinity Effects in Calcareous Clay Soil

ABSTRACT

Soil salinity is a major challenge in agriculture, particularly in calcareous soils with high calcium carbonate levels. Biochar, produced from biomass pyrolysis, is being considered as a potential solution for mitigating salinity effects. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using calcareous soil from a saline field to investigate the effects of sugarcane biochar applied at different rates (0.0%, 2.0%, and 5.0%) on soil properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth. Results showed that both Low Rate (2.0% biochar) and High Rate (5.0% biochar) treatments significantly improved soil pH, reduced electrical conductivity (EC), and increased soil organic matter (SOM) content. Plant growth indicators such as plant height, stem diameter, and leaf chlorophyll content also showed significant improvement with biochar application. High Rate had more pronounced effects compared to Low Rate. The analysis confirmed the significant effects of biochar on soil properties and plant growth, indicating its potential as a beneficial soil amendment. Sugarcane biochar has the potential to mitigate salinity stress and enhance crop productivity in calcareous soils. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of sugarcane biochar application and its interactions with other soil management practices in different crop systems. These findings highlight the promising role of biochar as a sustainable approach for mitigating salinity stress in agriculture and improving soil quality for crop production.

INDUSTRIAL RELEVANCE

The study’s findings highlight the potential industrial applications of sugarcane biochar in addressing soil salinity issues prevalent in calcareous soils, particularly in agriculture. The research underscores the positive impact of biochar on soil attributes, plant growth, and nutrient availability. With its ability to improve soil pH, reduce salinity, increase soil organic matter, and enhance plant growth, sugarcane biochar emerges as a promising soil amendment for agricultural use. This presents an opportunity for industries involved in sustainable agriculture, soil management, and crop enhancement to explore the integration of biochar into their practices. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for further research and field trials to optimize biochar application rates, assess economic feasibility, and ensure environmental sustainability. The insights gained from this study offer a pathway for industrial stakeholders to explore biochar’s role in enhancing soil quality, promoting plant growth, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Amelioration
• calcareous soils
• plant growth
• soil salinity
• sugarcane biochar

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my appreciation to my family (Dr. Farhang Rassaei, Mahdokht Massoud, Dr. Liza Rassaei, Dr. Farshad Rassaei, Dr. Janet Rassaei, and Farhad Rassaei) who provided me the possibility to complete this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Farzad Rassaei: design of the work, the acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, writing the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding regarding this manuscript.