The combined effect of biochar and mineral fertilizer on triticale yield, soil properties under different tillage systems

Abstract

This study examined the effect of study time, biochar dose, and fertilization-tillage system on the improvement of sandy loam physical-chemical properties and triticale grain yield. The soil properties (water holding capacity (WHC), wettability, moisture content (MC), organic matter content (SOM), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored in short time intervals (after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months). Soil was tilled in two methods (shallow ploughless tillage and direct drilling), fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers, and amended with three hydrophobic pine wood biochar doses (0 t/ha; 5 t/ha; 15 t/ha). It was found that 15 t/ha biochar dose had the highest effect on the soil’s physical-chemical properties improvement (SOM increased by 33.7%, pH—by 6.84%, EC—by 23.4%, WHC—by 8.48%, and MC—by 21.8%) compared to the variants without biochar. Direct drilling, fertilization with NPK fertilizers and 15 t/ha biochar dose significantly influenced the rise of soil’s physical-chemical properties and triticale yield (3.51 t/ha).