The Influence of Biochars Derived from Different Agricultural Wastes on Water Use Efficiency and Wheat Yield in Two Contrasting Textural Soils

Abstract

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of various types of  biochars originated from agricultural biomass on wheat biological yield (BY), harvest index (HI) and water use efficiency (WUE) in two types of soils of dissimilar textural and chemical properties. Two types of soils were moderate acidic clayey loam soil (pH, 5.07) and non-acidic clay soil (pH; 7.25). The five types of biochars amendments namely, rice husk waste  biochar (RHWB), hazelnut waste biochar (HWB), wheat straw waste biochar (WSWB), tea waste biochar (TWB) and mixed wood waste biochar (MWWB) were applied and their effects on water use efficiency (WUE), harvest index (HI) and biological yield (BY) of wheat evaluated. The design of experiment was completely randomized with three replications, the biochar application rates were 0% and 2%. Most of the applied biochars improved WUE, HI, and BY in moderate acidic clayey loam soil. Non-significant changes observed for non-acidic clay soil. The results implies that biochar amendments in moderate acidic clayey loam soil could modify physicochemical properties of soil and improve water use efficiency and yield of wheat. Our results further highlights that the primary textural characteristic and other physicochemical properties of soil might affect the biochars’ effectiveness on water use efficiency and yield of wheat.