Study the Effect of Soil Compaction and Biochar on Some Soil Physical Parameters

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil compaction levels and biochar addition on some soil physical parameters, namely; bulk density, particle density, soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity and infiltration. It included two factors: soil compaction with two levels of 0 and 2 kg and biochar addition with two levels of 0 and 2 %. The results showed that the soil compaction of 2 kg significantly affected in the bulk density, soil porosity, and hydraulic conductivity comparing with the soil compaction 0 kg, with no significant effect on particle density and infiltration. Meanwhile, 2 % biochar addition significantly affected in the bulk density, soil porosity, and hydraulic conductivity compared with 0 % biochar addition, with no significant effect on particle density and infiltration. Moreover, the results showed that the interaction between soil compaction and biochar addition led to a significant effect giving lowest bulk density 0.99 Mg m^-3, particle density 2.42 Mg m^-3, hydraulic conductivity 1.46 cm h^-1, and highest soil porosity 59.20 %, with 0 kg soil compaction and 2 % biochar, but lowest infiltration 8.10 cm h^-1 with 2 kg soil compaction and 2 % biochar.