Nutrient availability and pH level as influenced by inorganic fertiliser, biochar, compost, and biochar-compost blend in bioenergy sweet sorghum under marginal soils in Cullinan, Gauteng, South Africa

Résumé

Marginal soils play an important role in the production of bioenergy crops. Sustainable production systems are consequently of paramount importance as a means to avoid further deterioration in the condition of marginal soils. The objective of the study was to determine the ameliorating effects of biochar, compost, and a biochar–compost blend on nutrient availability and pH in comparison with the use of inorganic fertiliser in the production of bioenergy sweet sorghum on marginal soils. The effect of biochar, compost, a 1:1 biochar–compost blend, and inorganic fertiliser on soil pH, electric conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total organic nitrogen (TON), ammonium (NH 4 + -N) and nitrate (NO 3 − -N) nitrogen, available phosphorus (AvP), soil organic carbon (SOC), exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) was studied in the context of bioenergy sweet sorghum production on marginal soils. The application of organic amendments increased soil pH, EC, AvP, SOC, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and CEC above the levels achieved with inorganic fertiliser treatment. The application of a biochar–compost blend enhanced the measured variables to a significantly greater degree than that of biochar, compost, and inorganic fertiliser treatments individually. In the short term, pH, EC, TN, TON, NH 4 + -N, NO 3 −_ N, AvP, SOC, K, Ca, Mg, and CEC were 4.76% to 67.35% higher following the biochar–compost blend treatment than following the inorganic fertiliser treatment. In addition, the biochar–compost blend resulted in a lower sodium (Na + ) concentration than the other treatments. A biochar–compost blend treatment has the potential to enhance the marginal soil fertility status for sustainable bioenergy sorghum production whilst reducing soil sodicity by reducing Na + availability in the soil. Future studies should include long-term experiments alongside other sustainable practices applied in the production of other bioenergy crops.

Citer ce document

Accès au document

Texte intégral en lecture en ligne, réservé aux abonnés SPHAERO et aux membres de l'institution. Se connecter

Auteur(s)

Statistiques

Consultations : 1

Téléchargements : 0