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Influence of Rice Husk Biochar and Compost Amendments on Salt Contents and Hydraulic Properties of Soil and Rice Yield in Salt-Affected Fields

Authors :
Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong
Chau Minh Khoi
Karl Ritz
Tran Ba Linh
Dang Duy Minh
Tran Anh Duc
Nguyen Van Sinh
Thi Tu Linh
Koki Toyota
Source :
Agronomy, Vol 10, Iss 8, p 1101 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2020.

Abstract

Soil salinity may damage crop production. Besides proper management of irrigation water, salinity reduction can be achieved through soil amendment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of rice husk biochar and compost amendments on alleviation of salinity and rice growth. Field experiments were conducted at two salt-affected paddy rice fields located in distinct sites for five continuous crops. Treatments, with four replicates, consisted of continuous three rice crops per year (RRR), two rice crops rotated with fallow in spring–summer crop (FRR), FRR plus compost at 3 Mg ha−1 crop−1 (FRR + Comp), and biochar at 10 Mg ha−1 crop−1 (FRR + BC). Salt contents and hydraulic properties of soils, plant biomass, and plant uptake of cations were investigated. Soil bulk density (BD), exchangeable sodium (Na+), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were reduced remarkably by biochar application. Biochar application significantly increased other soil properties including total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), soluble and exchangeable potassium (K+), K+/Na+ ratio, available P, and total C. Compost application also improved BD, total porosity, and available P, but not exchangeable Na+ and ESP. Total aboveground biomass of rice showed a trend of FRR + BC > FRR + Comp > FRR > RRR. Relatively higher K+ uptake and lower Na+ uptake in rice straw in FRR + BC resulted in a significant two times higher K+/Na+ ratio over other treatments. Our results highlight that biochar amendment is a beneficial option for reducing ESP and providing available K+ and P under salinity-affected P-deficient conditions, hence improving straw biomass.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20734395
Volume :
10
Issue :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Agronomy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8d09a458ddc7485cb7c4f3d7cd21bdce
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081101