Effect of walnut shell biochars on soil quality, crop yields, and weed dynamics in a 4-year field experiment
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract
The introduction of biochar has been extensively tested under short-term greenhouse or field studies mainly in sandy or acidic soils, while its effects on soil properties, crop plants, and weed species especially in neutral or alkaline soils are still not well understood. Therefore, this study focused on relatively long effects of two walnut shell biochars (5 t ha−1) on soil nutrient dynamics, two crop plants (wheat and lentil) growth and developments, and weed growth dynamics over 4 years (2014–2017). Applied biochar added once at the beginning of the experiment while planted crops were supplied with macro-nutrients and sprayed with pesticides according to conventional requirements of the region. Biochars improved soil properties by 10–23% during the first and second years while positive effects of biochars on weed growth were drastically higher (60–78% higher weed density) during the whole period of this study most likely due to increase in bioavailability of nutrient shortly after biochar amendment and indirect positive effects of biochars on soil physical properties as well. Consequently, biochar macro- and micro-nutrient will be utilized by weed plants with higher efficacy compared with crop plants. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords
Biochar, Plant productivity, Soil properties, Weed dynamics
Divisions
ocean
Funders
National Science Foundation of Iran (No. IRI-2118472),Environmental Protection Program Foundation of Khorasan Province (EPKP-19572)
Publication Title
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume
27
Issue
15
Publisher
Springer Verlag (Germany)