The Effect of Biochars Prepared from Agricultural Residues at Different Temperatures on Some Chemical Properties of a Calcareous Soil and Na and K Concentration of Corn (Zea mays)

Biochar is a carbon-rich solid material produced by heating biomass and agricultural residues in an oxygen-limited environment. However, effects of biochar in soil depend on pyrolysis temperature and type of the raw material used in its production. In order to determine the effect of biochars prepared from agricultural residues at different temperatures on soil characteristics, soil cations and anions and Na and K concentrations of corn, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in four replications under greenhouse condition. Treatments included biochar type (rice, cotton and canola), pyrolysis temperatures (350 and 700 °C) and two application rates (0, 2 and 5 w/w). The results showed that all types of biochar increased soil EC values. The lowest and highest values of soil pH were observed at biochar prepared from rice and cotton residues, respectively. The soil pH was significantly increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature from 350 to 700 °C. The highest values of soil Na+, Ca++, Mg++, Cl- and HCO3- was observed at 350 °C. The results showed that between each three biochars type produced from crop residues (rice, cotton and canola), the highest Na concentrations of leaf and stem were recorded with addition of biochar prepared from rice residues, however, the biochar prepared from canola residues lead to the highest amount on K concentrations of leaf and stem. The pyrolysis temperature only affected the Na concentration of leaf at 5% probability level. The results showed that pyrolysis temperature and the type of feedstock material are important factors that influence the chemical properties of biochars and subsequently the soil characteristics.