Effect of Rice Husk Biochar as an Amendment on a Marginal Soil in Guyana

摘要

The use of bio-char as a soil amendment has received attention owing to its potential to improve physical and chemical soil properties as well as contributing towards soil carbon sequestration. An experiment was carried under shade house conditions at Mon Repos to study the effects of biochar made from rice husk and its potential as a soil amendment on Tabela sand. Bio-char was produced by slow pyrolysis and applied at rates of 0, 5, 25, and 50 t/ha in combination with inorganic fertilizers. Application of biochar increased soil pH, organic matter content, soil water holding capacity, exchangeable cations, nitrogen, phosphorous, cation exchange capacity and decreased bulk density and iron concentration. There was a 32.81% increase in biomass using 25 t/ha application rate in the first crop cycle compared to the control. However, plant biomass was significantly reduced for all treatments, and for every parameter measured in the second cropping cycle. The results of this study suggest that the beneficial effects of rice husk biochar did not last beyond one cropping cycle. The results showed that the application of rice husk biochar can be used to improve soil quality of marginal soils in Guyana.