SEWAGE SLUDGE BIOCHAR ENHANCES SOIL HEALTH AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN
STRONGLY ACIDIC SOIL
Abstract
Amending soils with sewage sludge biochar is a promising waste
management strategy and value-added approach to reuse the waste while
minimizing environmental contamination risks. Soil pot experiment was
conducted to examine the effect of a 300°C sludge-biochar in soil health
and crop productivity using a strongly acidic soil. Three treatments of
the soil pots were included: 1% biochar– (10 g kg-1 biochar/soil
ratio), 2% biochar– (20 g kg-1 biochar/soil ratio), and control (soil
without biochar). Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), spinach (Spinacia
oleracea), and mung bean (Vigna radiata) were grown sequentially in the
soil pots over 9 months under greenhouse and field conditions. Plant
biomass and soil health parameters were assessed. Soils amended with 2%
biochar demonstrated higher biomass in winter wheat, spinach, and mung
bean compared to unamended control treatments. The effect of sludge
biochar was not observed in soil bulk density; however, soil aggregates
stability was higher in soils amended with 2% biochar (24.17%)
compared to control (21.38%). Soil acidity was corrected in soils
amended with 2% biochar (pH value 6.5) compared to control (5.8),
electric conductivity (EC) was higher in 1% biochar (0.25 dS m-1)
compared to control (0.20 dS m-1). Respiration rate was higher in 1%
biochar (0.52 mg CO2 g-1 dry soil) compared to control (0.43 mg CO2
g-1), and total organic carbon (TOC) was lower in soils amended with
biochar compared to control. Sewage sludge derived biochar improved crop
production and soil health in strongly acidic soils and should be
adopted in commercial agriculture.