Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil productivity, its physical and chemical properties: A Review of Compost and Biochar Applications

This article examines the impacts of compost and biochar on soil properties and their potential to enhance soil productivity, particularly in soils of low fertility. Compost contributes to improving soil health by stimulating microbial activity, enriching soils with essential nutrients, and increasing organic matter. These effects enhance soil fertility and accelerate restoration of soil functionality. In addition, compost increases retention of soil moisture and decreases soil bulk density. However, the stability of compost in soil is relatively low, necessitating frequent reapplication of this additive, which may limit its cost-effectiveness and long-term utility. On the other hand, biochar offers a long-term stable carbon rich product through the pyrolysis of plant residues in anaerobic conditions, thereby serves as durable soil amendment. Its incorporation in soils improves soil characteristics by promoting soil aggregation and improving nutrient retention due to its high cation exchange capacity (CEC). Unlike compost, biochar remains longer in the soil, offering more economic applications. The combined application of compost and biochar demonstrate synergistic effects on soil quality than the utilization of either amendment independently. Compost provides readily available nutrients, while biochar increases the retention of these nutrients, thereby reducing their losses via leaching. It is imperative that future research seeks to optimize the methodologies and quantities for the application of these two organic amendments.