IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i13p6088-d1693647.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biochar, Compost, and Effective Microorganisms: Evaluating the Recovery of Post-Clay Mining Soil

Author

Listed:
  • Amanda Varela

    (Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos y Hongos Tropicales (LESYHT), Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

  • Juan Camilo Pineda Herrera

    (Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos y Hongos Tropicales (LESYHT), Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

  • Jennifer Vanegas

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Calle 28 # 5 B-02, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

  • Jonathan Soler

    (Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad ECCI, Calle 51 # 19-12, Bogotá D.C. 111311, Colombia)

  • Javier Peña

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Calle 28 # 5 B-02, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

  • Paula Pérez

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Calle 28 # 5 B-02, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

  • Janis Pinilla

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Calle 28 # 5 B-02, Bogotá D.C. 110311, Colombia)

Abstract

Exploiting clay for brick production results in soil damage. There are no field evaluations for its recovery with organic amendments comprising biochar. We conducted a small-scale experiment to assess the recovery effects of soil using biochar, both alone and in combination with compost. On a remnant of soil from clay mining, we applied the following to plots of 2.25 m 2 in a randomized complete block design: (1) biochar + efficient microorganisms (EMs), (2) compost + EMs, (3) compost + biochar + EMs, and (4) a control group without amendments. Composite soil samples from each plot were collected at the beginning of the experiment and at 30, 120, and 210 days. We analyzed some physicochemical properties of the soil and recorded the number and morphotypes of seedlings. We found that biochar + EMs and biochar + compost + EMs had positive effects in the short term, particularly in reducing bulk density. No synergistic effect was observed between biochar and compost, contrary to what was expected, which may be due to the short term of the experiment and prevailing low temperatures. The compost + EM treatment resulted in greater seedling diversity. In conclusion, bulk density can be used as an early indicator of soil improvement when biochar alone or combined with compost is used. Biochar may be a striking solution for promoting sustainable soil management after clay mining in high-elevation conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanda Varela & Juan Camilo Pineda Herrera & Jennifer Vanegas & Jonathan Soler & Javier Peña & Paula Pérez & Janis Pinilla, 2025. "Biochar, Compost, and Effective Microorganisms: Evaluating the Recovery of Post-Clay Mining Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6088-:d:1693647
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6088/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6088/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Despina Vamvuka & Katerina Esser & Kostas Komnitsas, 2020. "Investigating the Suitability of Grape Husks Biochar, Municipal Solid Wastes Compost and Mixtures of Them for Agricultural Applications to Mediterranean Soils," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Shakeel Ahmad Bhat & Alban Kuriqi & Mehraj U. Din Dar & Owais Bhat & Saad Sh. Sammen & Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam & Ahmed Elbeltagi & Owais Shah & Nadhir AI-Ansari & Rawshan Ali & Salim Heddam, 2022. "Application of Biochar for Improving Physical, Chemical, and Hydrological Soil Properties: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Rizki Maftukhah & Katharina M. Keiblinger & Ngadisih Ngadisih & Murtiningrum Murtiningrum & Rosana M. Kral & Axel Mentler & Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, 2023. "Post-Tin-Mining Agricultural Soil Regeneration Using Local Organic Amendments Improve Nitrogen Fixation and Uptake in a Legume–Cassava Intercropping System," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eric Britt Moore, 2023. "Challenges and Opportunities for Cover Crop Mediated Soil Water Use Efficiency Enhancements in Temperate Rain-Fed Cropping Systems: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Jiang, Zhanbo & Wang, Quanjiu & Wang, Lixue & Li, Mingyang, 2024. "Study on the optimal water−biochar management mode based on pan evaporation for solar greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Northeast China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    3. Agnieszka Kozioł & Dominika Paliwoda & Grzegorz Mikiciuk & Nadhira Benhadji, 2024. "Biochar as a Multi-Action Substance Used to Improve Soil Properties in Horticultural and Agricultural Crops—A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-40, November.
    4. Yeganeh Arablousabet & Arvydas Povilaitis, 2024. "Assessing the Role of Air Nanobubble-Saturated Water in Enhancing Soil Moisture, Nutrient Retention, and Plant Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Abdulaziz G. Alghamdi & Abdulrasoul Alomran & Hesham M. Ibrahim & Arafat Alkhasha & Zafer Alasmary, 2024. "Date Palm Waste-Derived Biochar for Improving Hydrological Properties of Sandy Soil Under Saturated and Unsaturated Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Mohammad Ghorbani & Elnaz Amirahmadi & Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner & Petr Konvalina & Marek Kopecký & Jan Moudrý & Kristýna Perná & Yves Theoneste Murindangabo, 2022. "The Impact of Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Properties and Its Effects on Soil Hydrological Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Maria A. Lilli & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Konstantinos Lionoudakis & Anna Kritikaki & Styliani Voutsadaki & Maria L. Saru & Konstantinos Komnitsas & Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, 2023. "The Impact of Sewage-Sludge- and Olive-Mill-Waste-Derived Biochar Amendments to Tomato Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Valeria Lavagi & Jonathan Kaplan & Georgios Vidalakis & Michelle Ortiz & Michael V. Rodriguez & Madison Amador & Francesca Hopkins & Samantha Ying & Deborah Pagliaccia, 2024. "Recycling Agricultural Waste to Enhance Sustainable Greenhouse Agriculture: Analyzing the Cost-Effectiveness and Agronomic Benefits of Bokashi and Biochar Byproducts as Soil Amendments in Citrus Nurse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Maria A. Lilli & Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Konstantinos Lionoudakis & Maria L. Saru & Styliani Voutsadaki & Anna Kritikaki & Konstantinos Komnitsas & Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, 2023. "Characterization and Risk Assessment of Different-Origin Biochars Applied in Agricultural Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.
    10. Jonathan O. Hernandez & Damcelle T. Cortes & Byung Bae Park, 2024. "Research Geographical Distribution, Strategies, and Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing the Success of Land-Based Restoration: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-25, July.
    11. Magdalena Bednik & Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek & Irmina Ćwieląg-Piasecka & Michał Dudek, 2023. "Enzyme Activity and Dissolved Organic Carbon Content in Soils Amended with Different Types of Biochar and Exogenous Organic Matter," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-17, October.
    12. Muniba Farhad & Maryam Noor & Muhammad Zubair Yasin & Mohsin Hussain Nizamani & Veysel Turan & Muhammad Iqbal, 2024. "Interactive Suitability of Rice Stubble Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improving Wastewater-Polluted Soil Health and Reducing Heavy Metals in Peas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6088-:d:1693647. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.