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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/24
Application of cotton stick biochar impregnated with lime, gypsum, and FYM for
improving soil properties under rice cultivation in salt-affected soils

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Talha Saleem , Muhammad Akram Qazi , Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman , Muhammad Umair ,
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Rubaz Ahmed , Sidra Anayatullah , Ali Rizwan
1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040,
Pakistan
2 Soil Fertility Research Institute, Lahore, Punjab
Correspondence: ziasindhu1399@gmail.com
Abstract
Soil salinization is considered as major environmental hazard, which is threatening the global
food security by degrading the land suitable for agriculture. Salt accumulation in arable land
deteriorates soil fertility which consequently reduces the crop yield. About one billion hectares
of soil is under salt stress and this area is increasing due to misuse of land and water resources.
In order to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive salts, the use of organic and inorganic
amendments is considered as a useful approach. However, integrated effects of these
amendments on remediation of saline-sodic soils need wide-range studies. A pot experiment
was conducted at wire house of ISES, UAF to investigate the combined effect of cotton stick
biochar with gypsum, lime and FYM on the remediation of salt affected soils during rice
growth. Total seven treatments were applied in soil having three EC: SAR ratio of 2.45:13.7
(S1), 9.45:22 (S2) and 11.56:40 (S3). The treatment plan of experiment was T1 = Control, T2 =
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Biochar impregnated with gypsum (1:1) @ 5 t ha , T3 = Biochar impregnated with lime (1:1)
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@ 5 t ha , T4 = Biochar impregnated with FYM (1:1) @ 5 t ha , T5 = Biochar impregnated
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with gypsum (1:1) @ 10 t ha , T6 = Biochar impregnated with lime (1:1) @ 10 t ha , T7 =
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Biochar impregnated with FYM (1:1) @ 10 t ha . Results showed that all treatments
significantly improved the soil chemical characerstics. However, maximum decrease in soil
sodium concentration (74.46% (S1), 49.54% (S2), 62.85% (S3)), pHs (4.10% (S1), 6.64% (S2),
8.50% (S3)) and ECe (7.67% (S1), 50.76% (S2), 50.72% (S3)) found for T5 as compared to
control. While maximum increase in soil Ca+Mg concentration (76.54% (S1), 55.56% (S2),
44.09% (S3)) and organic matter (366.88% (S1), 710.90% (S2), 399.83% (S3) recorded in T5
and T7 respectively. It was concluded that impregnation of biochar with gypsum effectively
reduced sodium concentration in soil and improved chemical properties of soil for healthy plant
Growth.
Key words: Biochar impregnation; Gypsum; Salt stress; Co-additive amendments; Rice
growth

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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