Title: Infiltration characteristics and hydraulic properties of soil as affected by tillage practices and biochar-poultry manure application

Authors: Chukwuebuka Vincent Azuka

Addresses: Department of Soil Science, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study investigated the effect of biochar and poultry manure (PM) applications on infiltration characteristics and hydraulic properties of degraded Ultisols in Nsukka under two tillage practices. The treatments were tillage practices (conventional tillage; zero-tillage) and organic amendments (10 t/ha biochar, 10 t/ha PM, 10 t/ha biochar + 200 kg/ha NPK and 400 kg/ha NPK). The results showed significant (p < 0.05) higher values of cumulative and steady-state infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), microporosity and total porosity (TP) in tilled soils (1,266 mm, 0.772 cm/min, 25.88 cm/hr, 40.53% and 49.23% respectively) than in no-tilled soils (799 mm, 0.502 cm/min, 20.05 cm/hr, 36.88% and 45.81% respectively). Organic amendments had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on BD, cumulative and steady-state infiltration, Ksat and available water capacity (AWC). The highest values of cumulative and steady-state infiltration, Ksat and AWC (1,302 mm, 0.800 cm/min, 25.23 cm/hr and 0.290 respectively) and lowest values of BD (1.49 g/cm³) were obtained in biochar-amended soil.

Keywords: organic amendment; soil degradation; soil quality; biochar; soil productivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2024.140857

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2024 Vol.18 No.3, pp.319 - 330

Received: 26 Sep 2022
Accepted: 30 Jun 2023
Published online: 03 Sep 2024 *

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