Effect of manure-derived biochars on sorghum sudangrass yield and critical soil properties in an andisol

GINEBRA AGUILAR MILAGROS; MUÑOZ, CRISTINA; ZAGAL, ERICK

Valdivia

Congreso; XIV CONGRESO NACIONAL DE LA CIENCIA DEL SUELO; 2022

Purpose: Manure-derived biochars typically have liming potential and fertilizer value, providing nutrients to soil and plants. However, to date, there is little information available on the impacts of nutrient-rich biochars on soil total carbon (TC) and crop productivity in Andisols.Material and Methods: A 6-months field experiment was conducted in a Humic Haploxerands to assess the effect of pig manure biochar (PMB) and poultry litter biochar (PLB) on soil properties and yield of Sorghum sudangrass (S. bicolor×S. bicolor var. Sudanese). The manure-derived biochars (pyrolyzed at 550°C) were applied at rates of 11 t ha-1 in 1m2 plots cultivated with Sorghum. Results: After two cuts, both treatments significantly increased crop yield compared to the unamended soil (10 t ha-1 on average). This effect was associated with the fertilizer value and liming potential of the added biochar. PLB and PMB increased soil pH and improved soil fertility, increasing soil available P and K. Although soil TC only increased with the addition of PMB (15.3 g kg-1), oxidizable C was higher in both treatments compared to the unamended soil, probably due to C return into the soil via crop roots.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that manure-derived biochar can improve critical soil properties, such as pH and available nutrients, and promote C storage in Andisols under forage crops.