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Effects of co-composting of farm manure and biochar on plant growth and carbon mineralization in an alkaline soil

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Abstract

In the present study, the effects of co-composts of biochar (BC) and farm manure (FM) on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and carbon mineralization in an alkaline soil were investigated. The co-composts of FM and BC were prepared at various ratios (FM100:BC0, FM75:BC25, FM50:BC50, FM25:BC75, FM0:BC100) using aboveground piles and were used in two separate experiments conducted simultaneously. In the plant growth trial, prepared co-composts were applied at a rate of 2% w/w and wheat was grown at two fertilizer levels (half and full) until maturity. In the incubation experiment, same treatments were used and carbon mineralization was studied over a period of 79 days. The priming effect and net CO2 efflux were calculated using CO2 release data. Analysis of postincubation soil showed no significant effect of treatments on the pH of soil. However, electrical conductivity and organic matter were significantly influenced by all treatments. The increasing BC ratio in the compost reduced the carbon mineralization in soil in a dose-additive manner. Increase in BC proportion in composts (FM50:BC50, FM25:BC75, FM0:BC100) stabilized the native carbon of the soil and caused negative priming effect (−1.9, −5.6, and −8.48%, respectively). Regarding plant growth, the results showed an enhancement in the grain yield with the application of compost than control. Total nitrogen (N), phosphorus, and potassium (K) contents of the soil were also increased by the application of compost than control (un-amended soil). Significantly higher N and K concentrations in wheat plants were also examined when soil was treated with compost than control. The use of compost with half fertilizer was better in increasing grain yield, especially with higher BC proportion in the compost than FM.

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Acknowledgements

We highly acknowledge the Directorate of Research, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, and Higher Education Commission Pakistan for the research funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

    Muhammad Farooq Qayyum, Fatima Liaquat, Rabia Abdur Rehman, Mehreen Gul & Muhammad Zafar ul Hye

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Muhammad Rizwan

  3. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zia ur Rehaman

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  1. Muhammad Farooq Qayyum
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  2. Fatima Liaquat
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  3. Rabia Abdur Rehman
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  4. Mehreen Gul
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  5. Muhammad Zafar ul Hye
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  6. Muhammad Rizwan
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  7. Muhammad Zia ur Rehaman
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Correspondence to Muhammad Rizwan.

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Responsible editor: Yi-ping Chen

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Qayyum, M.F., Liaquat, F., Rehman, R.A. et al. Effects of co-composting of farm manure and biochar on plant growth and carbon mineralization in an alkaline soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 26060–26068 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0227-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0227-4

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