Abstract
Biochar (BC) is an eco-friendly soil conditioner that mitigates climate change and promotes sustainable agriculture. However, selecting the appropriate commercial biochar and its application for specific soil and crop types requires research. The present work explores the effects of two commercial biochars (BC-I and BC-II) on sorghum plants grown in sandy loam soil under greenhouse conditions. The study characterized the morphological and chemical properties of BCs, including structure, surface area, porosity, elemental composition, and functional groups. Sorghum plants were cultivated in soil amended with biochar at varying application rates of 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, corresponding to 7, 14, 28, and 42 tons per hectare, respectively. Plant performance was evaluated using chlorophyll content (SPAD), relative water content (RWC), Leaf area (LA) and biomass. Soil carbon content was analyzed using elemental and total organic carbon analysis. Macro- and micronutrients content in soils were also determined. Our findings suggest that compared to BC-II, BC-I exhibited a higher abundance of surface functional groups, greater micropore volume, and a significantly larger pore surface area, indicating its superior physicochemical properties. Except for the 2.5% application rate, all other biochar (BC) rates (namely, 5%, 10%, and 15%) significantly enhanced soil carbon content. Notably, the 5% application rate resulted in the most substantial improvement in soil nutrient levels, including calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P), compared to the other rates. Sorghum plants treated with lower application rates (2.5% and 5%) of both BC-I and BC-II exhibited significantly enhanced RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomass compared to those treated with higher rates (10% and 15%). Among these, the 5% composite BC-I application demonstrated the most consistent improvement in plant physiological traits (RWC and SPAD) and growth parameters (LA and biomass). However, neither BC variants significantly improved soil nitrogen levels. Our findings indicate that a 5% application rate of composite BC-I provides the most effective balance between enhancing plant performance and improving soil quality in sandy loam soil. Future research on biochar production efforts should prioritize blending this biochar with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizers to address nitrogen limitations and further enhance soil fertility.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
BC-I had more surface functional groups than BC-II.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“compared to BC-II, BC-I exhibited a higher abundance of surface functional groups, greater micropore volume, and a significantly larger pore surface area”
Claim · model-written summary
BC-I had greater micropore volume than BC-II.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“compared to BC-II, BC-I exhibited a higher abundance of surface functional groups, greater micropore volume, and a significantly larger pore surface area”
Claim · model-written summary
BC-I had significantly larger pore surface area than BC-II.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“compared to BC-II, BC-I exhibited a higher abundance of surface functional groups, greater micropore volume, and a significantly larger pore surface area”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar rates of 5%, 10% and 15% increased soil carbon content.
- Treatment
- 5%, 10%, and 15%e0
- Outcome
- soil carbon contente0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Comparator
- 2.5% application ratee0
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Except for the 2.5% application rate, all other biochar (BC) rates (namely, 5%, 10%, and 15%) significantly enhanced soil carbon content.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The 5% rate improved soil calcium, potassium and magnesium most among rates.
- Treatment
- 5% application ratee0
- Outcome
- calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg)e0
- Direction
- improvemente0
- Comparator
- other ratese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the 5% application rate resulted in the most substantial improvement in soil nutrient levels, including calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P), compared to the other rates.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The 5% rate improved soil phosphorus most among rates.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the 5% application rate resulted in the most substantial improvement in soil nutrient levels, including calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P), compared to the other rates.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Low rates of BC-I increased sorghum water content, chlorophyll and shoot biomass relative to high rates.
- Treatment
- BC-Ie0
- Outcome
- RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomasse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Qualifier
- lower application rates (2.5% and 5%)e0
- Comparator
- higher rates (10% and 15%)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sorghum plants treated with lower application rates (2.5% and 5%) of both BC-I and BC-II exhibited significantly enhanced RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomass compared to those treated with higher rates (10% and 15%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Low rates of BC-II increased sorghum water content, chlorophyll and shoot biomass relative to high rates.
- Treatment
- BC-IIe0
- Outcome
- RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomasse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
- Qualifier
- lower application rates (2.5% and 5%)e0
- Comparator
- higher rates (10% and 15%)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sorghum plants treated with lower application rates (2.5% and 5%) of both BC-I and BC-II exhibited significantly enhanced RWC, chlorophyll content, and shoot biomass compared to those treated with higher rates (10% and 15%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent composite BC-I most consistently improved RWC and SPAD.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the 5% composite BC-I application demonstrated the most consistent improvement in plant physiological traits (RWC and SPAD) and growth parameters (LA and biomass).”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Five percent composite BC-I most consistently improved leaf area and biomass.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the 5% composite BC-I application demonstrated the most consistent improvement in plant physiological traits (RWC and SPAD) and growth parameters (LA and biomass).”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Neither biochar variant significantly improved soil nitrogen.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“neither BC variants significantly improved soil nitrogen levels.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors identified 5% composite BC-I as the best balance for plant and soil in sandy loam.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a 5% application rate of composite BC-I provides the most effective balance between enhancing plant performance and improving soil quality in sandy loam soil.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend blending biochar with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizers.
- Outcome
- blending this biochar with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizerse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Future research on biochar production efforts should prioritize blending this biochar with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizers to address nitrogen limitations and further enhance soil fertility.”
t0“sorghum”
The same questions in other papers
biochar · nutrient: content · SorghumPositive and negative results
1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 7 in the opposite direction
- positive
- positive
- positive
5 papers more in this group
See all 9 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.