Ola raafat mosleh ahmed
Demonstrator
Using Biochar and Biogas Manure to Improve Properties of Light Textured Soils
Annals of Agricultural Science, Moshtohor (ASSJM) • 2026
Publication Information
Authors
Not Available
Keywords
Sandy soil; Soil reclamation; Soil structure; Geometric mean diameter; Mean weight diameter
Journal
Annals of Agricultural Science, Moshtohor (ASSJM)
Publisher
Annals of Agricultural Science, Moshtohor (ASSJM)
Volume
64
Issue
2
Pages
Not Available
publication.type
Local
Paper Link
Not Available
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Land reclamation in Egypt faces critical challenges due to rapid population growth and the limited area of fertile Nile Valley soils, with light-textured soils (sand and loamy sand) suffering from poor structure and low water retention. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar, biogas manure, and their 1:1 combination, applied at 15 g kg⁻¹, in improving soil properties and Sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor, Moench, cv. Giza 2)productivity .A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in 2024 using two soils: sand (S1) and loamy sand (S2). Treatments were : Control (A0), biochar(A1), A2=biogas manure, A3=combined of biochar and biogas manure (1:1). We measured soil physical properties such as saturation, available water, Mean Weight Diameter, Geometric Mean Diameter), chemical properties (pH, EC, SAR, ESP), and plant parameters (shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, water-use efficiency). All amendments significantly improved soil properties compared to control. Biochar alone (A1) increased available water by 43.1% in sand and 39.6% in loamy sand. The combined treatment (A3) in loamy sand (S2) was most effective, increasing (MWD) from 0.45 to 6.76 mm, (GMD) from 0.37 to 6.76 mm, and shoot fresh weight from 22.29 to 38.19 g pot⁻¹, representing a 71.3% increase over control. Water-use efficiency increased from 1.49 in untreated sand to 6.14 Mg m-3 under the compined treatment in loamy sand.
