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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/21
Comparative effect of three different sources of modified biochar on ionic composition
of wheat and soil solution in saline-sodic soils

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Amad-ud-Din , Muhammad Umair , Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman* , Asad Jamil , Muhammad
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Usman
1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040,
Pakistan
Correspondence: ziasindhu1399@gmail.com
Abstract
Soil salinization is a global issue regarding decline in productivity of agricultural fields. It is
the major abiotic factor behind loss of crop production in arid to semi-arid zones. It is the need
of the hour to use some sustainable management practices for the rehabilitation of soil
productivity of degraded soils. In this respect, biochar can be used to improve crop growth and
soil productivity. It is a soil organic amendment that helps to improve soil physio-chemical and
biological properties. Further, it is a rich carbon source that reduces the effect of salinity and
can stay in soil for a longer period. A residual pot experiment was conducted using completely
randomized design to evaluate the effect of three different modified biochars on properties of
saline-sodic soil having three EC:SAR of 4.5:22 (S1), 5.5:22 (S2), and 6:14 (S3) with wheat
grown as a test crop. Rice husk biochar (RHB), wheat straw biochar (WSB) and orange peel
biochar (OPB) were applied after giving washing with distilled water. The treatment plan was
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T1: contaminated control, T2: RHB @ 3-ton ha , T3: WSB @ 3-ton ha , T4: OPB @ 3-ton ha -
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1 , T5: RHB @ 6-ton ha , T6: WSB @ 6-ton ha , T7: OPB @ 6-ton ha . Results showed that all
treatments improved the soil chemical properties and ionic content of wheat plant as compared
to control. However, maximum decrease in soil Na (66.32, 67.43, 72.29 % in S1, S2, S3,
respectively) concentration found in T5 as compared to control. Similarly, maximum decrease
in soil SAR (41.52 and 64.28 % in S2 and S3, respectively) and ECe (33.64 and 33.91 % in S2
and S3, respectively) found in T5 and for S1 maximum decrease in SAR (54.80%) and ECe
(26%) found for T6. However, soil pHs (4.16 and 3.61 % for S1 and S3, respectively) decreased
maximum in T5 and for S2 (3.95%) maximum decrease found for T2=T3. Soil Ca + Mg (76.54,
52.75, 49.46 % in S1, S2, S3, respectively) also found maximum for T5. Plant Ca + Mg (69.23,
74.95, 78.50 in S1, S2, S3, respectively) and K (58.16, 73.52, 57.42 % in S1, S2, S3,
respectively) also found highest in T5 as compared to control. It is concluded from this study
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that application of rice husk biochar @ 6-ton ha is a sustainable approach to improve the soil
chemical properties and alleviation of ionic toxicity in wheat crop.
Keywords: Biochar sources; Saline-sodic soil; Soil Reclamation; Rice husk biochar;
sustainable agriculture

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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