Beneficial effects of biochar application on improving sandy soil properties Gerges, G. W. M., G. Abdel-Nasser, A. H. A. Hussein

ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corncob waste-derived biochar on improved sandy soil properties (physical and chemical properties). The soil used in the present study was sandy texture. The soil mixed with soft and hard parts of corncob biochar produced by pyrolysis at a high temperature (500 °C). Soil was mixed with biochar at rates of 0, 1, 3, and 5% (w/w). The mixture was wetted at field capacity and incubated at room temperature for one month with rewetting every 7 days. The soil-biochar mixtures were subjected to physical and chemical analysis. The results indicated that the application of biochar significantly improved the saturation water content (SWC), field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), and available water content (AWC).The soil bulk density (BD) of the sandy soil significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with the application of biochar. Soft biochar was more effective in decreasing the soil bulk density by 5.12%. The increase in soil pH after amendment application could be attributed directly to the higher pH of the biochar used in the study. Soluble cations (i.e. Ca, Mg, Na, and K) in soil treated with biochar were significantly increased with increasing the biochar application rate. Also, the soil's organic carbon increased linearly with biochar application rates. Available nutrient contents (N, P, K, Fe, Mn, CU, and Zn) significantly increased with increasing the biochar application rate. The results of the present study showed that biochar applications can improve soil properties