Changes in Some Properties of Soil in Irrigation of Soil Containing Biochar at Different Rates with Varying Irrigation Levels

Abstract

Although it is a good practice to use deficit water in irrigation for the protection of freshwater resources, decreasing plant yield is an important problem. It has been proven by many studies that the use of biochar in deficit irrigation to improve this problem tolerates reduced yields, but it has been observed in the literature that the number of studies examining the effects of biochar on soil properties in the use of biochar against water stress is limited. Thus, in this study, it was aimed to increase the limited number of studies in the literature on this subject by examining the changes in some properties of the soil under irrigation of lettuce-grown soil containing biochar at different rates on a weight basis (B0: 0% biochar, B1: 1% biochar, B2: 2% biochar, B3: 3% biochar) with varying irrigation levels (100%: full irrigation at 100% level, 67%: deficit irrigation at 33% level, 33%: deficit irrigation at 67% level). As a result of the study, organic matter/carbon, total nitrogen and pH were 12% and 20%, 11% and 16% and 1% and 3% higher, respectively, at decreasing irrigation levels compared to full irrigation, while electrical conductivity was 6% and 12% lower, and organic matter/carbon, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity were higher in the range of 57% to 193%, 38% to 127% and 28% to 117%, respectively, at increasing biochar rates compared to the control treatment, while pH was lower in the range of 1% to 4%. As a result, by evaluating the improving effect of biochar on soil properties under deficit irrigation conditions, it was found that it can be recommended to use biochar at a rate of 3% on a weight basis, but considering electrical conductivity-increasing and pH-reducing effects of biochar and carrying out alternative studies to examine the effects of the application of different rates of biochar on field conditions under deficit irrigation conditions, including in this regard, are among the findings that can be suggested as a result of this study.