Abstract
The study evaluated the effect of application of some fertilizers on soil carbon dioxide evolution and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kunsat) at daily time scale, while other soil properties were assessed at the end of the experiment. The factorial experimental design was based on completely randomized design replicated three times. 4 kg of the prepared soil was weighed into each pot and treatments consisted of control, biochar (10 tons/ha), organic fertilizer 5 ton/ha + urea 40 kg/ha, urea (40 kg/ha) intercalated with biochar (10 ton/ha) + organic fertilizer (5 ton/ha). Each was subjected to two degrees of moisture contents (50% and 70% field moisture capacity) and three levels of compaction (0 kg, 2 kg and 4 kg weights). Saturated hydraulic conductivity, Kunsat, C02 evolution, bulk density, total porosity, soil mean weight diameter, geometric weight diameter and organic carbon were determined using standard methods. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance while significant means were separated using least significant difference at 5% probability level. Urea plus organic fertilizers significantly improved Kunsat compared to other treatments. This variation occurred on specific days starting from the second day of the experiment. Variations in the CO2 loss were minimal indicating that the CO2 emission arising from this soil management practice was limited. Porosity and bulk density improved the most under biochar-based treatments. Surprisingly, organic carbon was not affected by the fertilizer-related treatments. Aggregate stability was minimally affected. Thus, within a short-term frame, the treatments had minimal CO2 loss while improving soil hydraulic properties.
Keywords:
weights). saturated hydraulic conductivity
k
c0 evolution
bulk density
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