Effects of Biochar on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The research was conducted to study the effects of biochar on soil physical and chemical properties in soils of Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria. The experiment was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri greenhouse.0g/kg, 30g/kg, and 50g/kg of the various biochar sources namely Poultry Droppings (PD), Cow Dung (CD) and Wood Charcoal (WC) were respectively mixed with 1kg of soil sample which is equivalent to 0.000000025ha and replicated three times. The experimental design is a Factorial Arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with the various sources of biochar as the main treatments while the various rates (0, 30g/kg, and 50g/kg) application constitutes the subplot treatments making a total of 27 experimental units. The experiment was allowed for 30 days, and adequate moisture was ensured. The data generated was subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that the application of biochars (PD, CD and WC) to the soil studied, significantly at a 5% level of probability improved the soil physicochemical properties except for the texture of the soil. The levels of improvement increased as the rate of applications of biochar increased. The level of improvement followed the trends of PD₅₀ > CD₅₀  > WC₅₀ > PD₅₀ > CD₃₀ > WC₃₀ > 0g/kg (control). Based on the study, therefore, biochar application is recommended to farmers because of its significant improvement in soil physical and chemical properties.