PJB-2020-382
Potential impact of bioenergy wastes to improve soil organic carbon, microbial activity, aggregation and nutrient release in an alkaline calcareous soil
Shabana Ehsan
Abstract
Wastes produced from these bio-energy plants such as ash, slurry, etc, may be problematic if they are not disposed of safely. The utilization of these wastes as soil amendments is a viable approach as these are a rich source of mineral nutrients. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutrient release and changes in physicochemical properties of soil after incubation with a different combination of bioenergy residues. Two variants of sugarcane bagasse ash, (A) boiler ash from sugarcane industry and (G) ash from gasification plant, were mixed in 1:1 ratio with wheat straw biochar (B) and dairy manure digestate (D) @ 10, 15 and 20t/ha. Soil samples were taken after 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of incubation and analyzed for soil physic-chemical and biological parameters. Various amendments significantly influenced the soil pH, EC, soil respiration, P, and K contents at each sampling interval. The P and K contents in soil amended with digestate+boiler ash were increased significantly after 60 days of incubation compared to their initial soil contents. Ammonium contents in soil were high up to 15 days of incubation and later on, these were decreased while nitrate contents were increased in the same treatment. While macro-aggregate (77 g/kg) and organic carbon contents (1.40%) were maximum in biochar + boiler ash treatment. It is concluded that the application of bioenergy wastes improved respiration, SOC; and soil P and K contents. The study further warrants that these combinations of various wastes should be tested under field conditions for further recommendations.
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