Effect of biochar addition on soil properties and durum wheat production in Northeast of Algeria

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the effects of biochar, enriched by compost and chemical fertilizers (Nitrogen, Phopsphorus and Potassium), on soil properties and the agro morphological characteristics of durum wheat. To achieve this objective, various soil treatments were applied in agricultural fields at Skikda University in Algeria. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were as follows:control soil, soil amended with 1 kg of biochar enriched by fertilizer, soil amended with 2 kg of biochar enriched by fertilizer, soil treated with 1 kg of biochar enriched by fertilizer and compost, soil amended with chemical fertilizer alone, and soil amended with compost alone. At the end of the study, various physical and chemical properties of the soil were analyzed, and the agro morphological characteristics of the wheat were monitored, including tillering, leaf area, relative water content, and crop yield after harvest. The results showed that soil enriched with biochar, fertilizer, and compost improved soil properties. It notably increased the soil orgnic carbon and nitrogen content, neutralized the soil pH, it increased water-holding capacity and enhanced mineral content. In terms of the wheat crop’s agro morphological characteristics, the same treatment led to increased plant height, leaf area, neck length, and relative water content. It also recorded the highest yield, with 45 quintals per hectare (Q ha −1 )) of wheat. The treatment with 2 kg of biochar enriched by chimical fertilizer came in second, yielding 35.66 Q ha −1 ). Overall, the study demonstrated that the combination of biochar with compost and chemical fertilizers had the most significant positive impact on the growth and yield of durum wheat.