Comparision of Soil Amendments using Biochar and Traditional Compost in Enhancing Soil Quality

Biochar and farmyard manure (FYM) are regular soil amendments enhanced used worldwide-they improve soil fertility and structure and crop productivity. Biochar improves soil health with long-lasting effects on water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, while FYM, though beneficial, offers short-term improvements. An experiment was carried out at the field scale on a 30 x 30 ft plot separated into three portions-one treated with biochar, the other with FYM, and one untreated control plot. The crop planted in this experiment was Black gram (CO 6) at 45 feet between rows planted and taking care of agronomic practices. The parameters studied for soils were pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before and after applying the treatments. The remaining parameters are growth and yield components: plant height, leaf height, number of leaves, pod number, pod size and pod weight to properly compare the treatments' effect. Results showed that more nutrient availability is obtained in biochar-treated soil, however, than FYM; this was 10-15% higher regarding nitrogen-phosphorus and potassium levels. Growth around 20% higher in biochar was normal in the plot with pod yield at about 25% higher than that in FYM. Further, it reduced the occurrence of weeds by 30% compared with the control plot. FYM was a bit more favorable than control and was by far inferior to biochar. All of these indicate, thus, that biochar is a better organic amendment to enhance against crop health and crop productivity in sustainable agriculture.