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Effects of Biochar and Synthetic Polymer on the Hydro-Physical Properties of Sandy Soils

Author

Listed:
  • Arafat Alkhasha

    (Soil Science Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
    General Authority for Agricultural Research, Sanaa 1837, Yemen)

  • Abdulrasoul Al-Omran

    (Soil Science Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Anwar Aly

    (Soil Science Department, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
    Department of Soil and Water Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt)

Abstract

Synthetic polymers, such as polyacrylamide (PAM), and biochar are generally used as soil amendments to improve soil properties. This paper explores a laboratory column experiment conducted to investigate the effects of biochar (pyrolysis at 400–450 °C) and polymers, with different application rates, on the hydro-physical properties of sandy soil. The experiment evaluated four rates each of biochar (0.0% (C), 2% (B 1 ), 4% (B 2 ), 6% (B 3 ) and 8% (B 4 )) and polymers (0.0% (C), 0.2% (P 1 ), 0.4% (P 2 ), 0.6% (P 3 ), and 0.8%(P 4 )), as well as a mixture of them. The infiltration rate decreased significantly when a mixture of biochar and polymers was adopted. B 1 showed a decrease of 32.73% while a mixture of 8% (B 4 ) and (0.8%) P 4 exhibited a decrease of 57.31%. The polymers increased the infiltration rate at low concentrations (P 1 and P 2 ) and reduced it at high concentrations (P 3 and P 4 ). The cumulative evaporation decreased significantly for most treatments. B 1 recorded the highest decrease in cumulative evaporation with a percentage decrease of 31.9%. The highest decrease in hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was for B 1 . However, the mixture of B 4 and P 4 resulted in the highest increase in soil moisture content at field capacity compared to the control and other treatments. P 4 and the mixture of B 2 and P 2 showed significant ( p < 0.05) increases in the percentage of stable aggregate (SA) in fraction size (0.25–0.125 mm). Although the mixture of B 4 and P 4 had the highest increase in soil moisture content, this study recommends using the B 1 treatment on sandy soil in arid environments due to its strong hydro-physical properties and affordability.

Suggested Citation

  • Arafat Alkhasha & Abdulrasoul Al-Omran & Anwar Aly, 2018. "Effects of Biochar and Synthetic Polymer on the Hydro-Physical Properties of Sandy Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4642-:d:188482
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abdulaziz G. Alghamdi & Bandar H. Aljohani & Anwar A. Aly, 2021. "Impacts of Olive Waste-Derived Biochar on Hydro-Physical Properties of Sandy Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Faisal I. Zeineldin & Yousef Al-Molhim, 2021. "Polymer and deficit irrigation influence on water use efficiency and yield of muskmelon under surface and subsurface drip irrigation," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 16(3), pages 191-203.

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