In vitro Availability of Macro Nutrients in Various North Indian Soils by Application of Biochar

Abstract

The use of organic amendments is popular these days therefore we conducted a study on biochar in various North Indian region soils under pot culture to evaluate the changes in soil characteristics. Four types of soils taken for 75 days during Kharif and Rabi season were studied out of which Soil-1 is slightly acidic while Soil-2 to Soil-4 are alkaline. The soil samples were collected thrice at the interval of 25 days using standard procedures and analyzed for various macronutrients (pH, EC, OC, N, P, and K) essential for plants in the laboratory. The change in status of available NPK in soils and other soil properties like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic carbon (OC) content due to inoculation of biochar was assessed. Results reveal that all treatments having biochar leads to an increase in the content of available N, P, and K together with OC. There recorded a slight elevation in EC initially at 25th DAI due to its inoculation. The pH during the initial period had reduced but later on rise as the number of DAI increased.