Short-term changes of soil physicochemical properties affected by organic modifier type and its application method

Abstract

Managing soil modifier application is important to improve the soil properties. The purpose of the experiment was to study the short-term (0, 60, 120, 180 days) changes of the soil properties affected by the organic modifier types (barberry biochar, poultry manure, vermicompost, wheat straw), and their application methods (mixing and mulching). This study was carried out in a laboratory scale where organic modifiers were used at 5% ratio (by weight) with four replicates. The factorial experiment was performed based on a totally random design using variance analysis, mean comparison and the least significant difference (LSD) test (p < 0.05). The soil characteristics were enhanced by all organic modifiers. The highest amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were obtained from the poultry manure. The highest amounts of calcium and magnesium were related to the barberry biochar at 120 and 180 days, and led to increasing up to 1.33, and 2.5 times, respectively, compared to the control. Promising results were observed in soil physicochemical properties when barberry biochar was applied as mixed with the soil for 180 days. The mixed application of the poultry manure and barberry biochar for 180 days was the best treatment.