Abstract

In Pakistan, a lot of waste is generated from the falling leaves of Populous trees every season and dumped as unused waste material. A study was conducted at Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to investigate the effect of biochar prepared from populous trees on soil microbial biomass, soil enzymes activity, microbial population, and growth of mung bean. Biochar was prepared from leaves of Populous euphratica at 350 degrees C for 3 h. Eighteen plastic pots were filled with 5.0-kg soil in each to accommodate six treatments with three replications. The treatments were biochar at 50 g kg(-1), N at 0.0216 g kg(-1), P at 0.0652 g kg(-1), biochar (50 g kg(-1)) plus N (0.0216 g kg(-1)), biochar (50 g kg(-1)) plus P (0.0652 g kg(-1)), and control (no application). Mung bean (Vigna radiata) plants were grown in each pot for 60 days. Soil samples were collected at crop maturity and analyzed for microbial indices like enzymatic activity and microbial population, and plant nutrients. The results indicated that highest microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was observed in biochar + phosphorus (BC + P) treatment which was 65% higher than control. Similarly, highest microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) was observed in BC + N treatment which was 38% higher than control. For enzyme urease and alkaline phosphatase, highest activity was observed in treatment BC + N and BC + P respectively, which was 4% and 24% higher than control. Highest population of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes was observed in treatment where biochar and BC + P were applied, respectively. The study concluded that biochar prepared from populous leaves can be used effectively along with N and P fertilizers to improve microbial activity of soil and consequently crop growth.

Keywords

Soil; Biochar; Populous leaves; Microorganism; Mung beans

Published in

Arabian Journal of Geosciences
2019, Volume: 12, number: 18, article number: 591

UKÄ Subject classification

Soil Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4724-2

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/103504