Jul 2026· Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis· Vol 57, pp. 1282 - 1299· 0 citations· 28 references
Abstract
ABSTRACT Soil acidity is a major constraint to barley production in the Southern Highlands of Ethiopia. An on-farm experiment was conducted during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons on strongly acidic Nitisols (pH 4.7) to evaluate the effects of integrated application of vermicompost (VC), inorganic nitrogen (N), and lime on soil chemical properties and barley productivity. Nine treatments, comprising a control, sole and combined applications of VC and N at different proportions, and integrated treatments with lime (3 t ha−1), were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Integrated application of VC, N, and lime significantly increased soil pH, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen while reducing exchangeable acidity compared with the control and sole nutrient applications. Grain yield and yield components were also significantly improved in both cropping seasons. The combined application of 50% VC + 50% N + 3 t ha−1 lime produced the greatest improvements in soil fertility and barley yield, indicating synergistic effects of integrating organic, inorganic, and liming materials for acidic soil management. The integrated application of 100 kg urea + 100 kg NPSB + 5 t vermicompost ha⁻¹ is recommended for farmers seeking to maximize barley productivity and overall profitability because it generated the highest grain yield and net benefit. However, for resource-constrained farmers with limited capital, the sole application of 100 kg urea ha⁻¹ is a practical alternative because it produced the highest marginal rate of return, indicating greater economic efficiency per unit of additional investment. Improved soil fertility and grain yield in the second cropping season demonstrated residual benefits of the integrated treatments. Overall, integrated use of vermicompost, nitrogen fertilizer, and lime was more effective than sole nutrient applications in improving soil fertility and sustaining barley production on acidic Nitisols.
Soil acidity is one of the most serious constraints limiting crop productivity in regions with high rainfall in Ethiopia. To address this issue, field experiments were conducted during the 2024 main cropping season in farmers’ fields in two distinct ecological locations. This study aimed to explore the response of soil chemical properties and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to organic and inorganic amendments of acidic soils in Jaldu district and Cheha district in central Ethiopia. Application rates of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 t/ha vermicompost; 0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha agricultural lime; and 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/ha NPS fertilizer were applied to acidic soils of the study areas. Soil chemical properties related to acidity were determined using standard laboratory procedures, which indicated low pH, available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity, along with high exchangeable acid before planting. After harvesting, agricultural lime improved acidity-related soil conditions, including pH, organic C, available P, and total exchangeable bases, while reducing exchangeable acids in both districts. Vermicompost specifically improved soil organic C and total N in the soil of Jaldu district. The improvement in soil acidity due to liming was greater than that achieved by vermicompost or NPS fertilizer. Wheat yield increased in response to all rates of agricultural lime, vermicompost, and NPS-fertilizer applications. The highest yields of 5.71 t/ha and 4.62 t/ha were obtained with the application of 6 t/ha of agricultural lime in Cheha district and Jaldu district, respectively. The study demonstrated that sustainable agricultural practices soil amendment with agricultural inputs decreases soil acidity and improve wheat grain yields. Locational disparities in soil physical–chemical properties and wheat production with limited amendment options can limit the applicability of the findings from the selected study districts to wider regions. Therefore, investigations over diverse locations, seasons, and wheat varieties are needed to examine the effects on soil fertility and crop yield returns, and the economic viability of using diverse agricultural inputs.
A. Chimdi, Yunting Fang, Ang Wang et al.· Sustainability· 0 citations
Sandy soils are characterized by low organic matter content, weak nutrient retention, and limited water-holding capacity, which restrict crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder on soil properties and the productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in sandy soil. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022) at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replicates. Soil chemical properties, photosynthetic pigments, vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, and yield parameters were evaluated. The combined application of biochar, Azolla, and eggshell powder significantly improved soil fertility compared with the control treatment. Soil organic matter increased to 0.70%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium reached 51.10, 6.67, and 200 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The integrated treatment also enhanced chlorophyll content, plant growth, biomass production, and seed yield across both seasons. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive relationships between soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. These results demonstrate that the integrated application of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder can effectively improve soil fertility and enhance the productivity of Phaseolus vulgaris in sandy soil systems.
D. M. Khalifa, A. Alrashidi, Ammar Al-Farga et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
In semi‐arid Mediterranean conditions, irrigation management is constrained by soil degradation and water scarcity. This exploratory study assessed, over two consecutive growing seasons (2022–2023) in the Mitidja plain, Algeria, the synergistic effects of organic mulches (wood chips, sawdust, wheat straw and a composite mixture) combined with drip irrigation on the soil properties, growth and yield of tomato. Due to the absence of true replication, the results are presented as descriptive statistics and should be interpreted as presented trends rather than statistically validated effects. The findings suggest that the composite mulch (P4A) corresponded to higher water retention, more moderate pH, more stable soil temperature and electrical conductivity, and better plant growth. P4A showed an increase in soil organic matter to 2.6% (from 1.3% in 2022) and was accompanied by water savings of 27% (first season) to 50% (second season). The yield reached 15.1 t ha
−1
in 2023 under P4A, compared to 4.5 t ha
−1
for the control, and the water productivity (WP) increased from 1.6 to 9.8 kg·m
−3
. This research suggests that composite organic mulch generates cumulative benefits for soil water, temperature, nutrient availability and productivity, offering a potential low‐cost strategy for water savings and soil quality improvement under semi‐arid conditions.
In Ethiopia, the use of fertilizer is low due to high cost and limited availability, leading to low yields. Using organic amendment, such as biochar together with mineral fertilizers could be a more effective solution. A field experiment was conducted in clay‐textured soil with a slightly acidic pH of 5.82, located in southern Ethiopia to determine the effects of two different types of biochar, including coffee (Coffea Arabica) husk and maize (Zea mays L) straw biochars, at three application rates (0, 2.5, and 5 t per hectare) with and without mineral fertilizer on maize yields, nutrient uptake, and soil properties. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and three replications. Three‐way analysis of variance was conducted to quantify the effects of biochar type, rate, and mineral fertilizer combinations on maize yields, nutrient uptake, and selected soil properties. Biochar application, alone or with fertilizer, improved maize yields, nutrient uptake (N and P), and soil properties (organic carbon, bulk density, and soil moisture content) significantly. Coffee husk biochar outperformed maize straw biochar by 44% in enhancing maize yield. Coffee husk biochar was also better in improving soil properties (4%, 5%, and 13% enhancement of organic carbon, soil moisture content, and soil bulk density, respectively, compared to maize straw biochar). Increasing the biochar application rate from 2.5 to 5 t ha−1 resulted in maize grain yield increase of 45.1%, irrespective of the biochar type. Combining coffee husk biochar at 5 t ha−1 with mineral fertilizer showed the best results in terms of nutrient uptake, maize yield, and soil improvement. This study suggests that using biochar from coffee husk and maize straw can boost maize productivity in similar environments by enhancing soil moisture and nutrient availability.
S. Raji, Werkinesh Kassa, Alemayehu Kiflu et al.· Vadose Zone Journal· 0 citations
Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, and sole reliance on inorganic fertilizers raises concerns about long-term soil health. This study evaluated the effects of maize cob biochar and NPK fertilizer, applied individually and in combination, on soil properties, growth, and yield of maize (
Zea mays
L.) in Akure, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Treatments included control, biochar (1.5 and 3.0 t/ha), NPK fertilizer (100 and 200 kg/ha), and a combined application of 1.5 t/ha biochar with 100 kg/ha fertilizer. Growth parameters measured included plant height, leaf area index, internode length, and stem girth, while yield indices and post-harvest soil chemical properties were also assessed. Results showed that all treatments significantly improved maize performance compared to the control. Biochar alone produced the highest growth values and yield components, including cob weight (375.12 g), number of seeds per cob (707.80), and seed weight per cob (203.53 g), compared to the control (161.50 g, 104.73, and 37.49 g, respectively). The combined treatment also recorded high values (313.52 g, 670.50, and 169.94 g). Biochar improved soil properties, increasing organic carbon (0.89%) and organic matter (1.52%) relative to the control (0.69% and 0.19%), while fertilizer enhanced available phosphorus (5.39 cmol/kg). The study concludes that integrating maize cob biochar with inorganic fertilizer is an effective and sustainable strategy for improving soil fertility and maize productivity.
O. Nwafor, A. Johnson, Akinbuwa Olumakinde et al.· Advances in Bioscience and B...· 0 citations
Soil acidity, characterized by aluminum toxicity and nutrient fixation, significantly limits food barley production in the Ethiopian highlands. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of Biochar, wood ash, and lime on soil properties, barley yield, and economic returns in Legambo District. A field experiment was conducted using a 3 × 3 × 3 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications, testing Biochar (0, 5, 10 t ha⁻¹), wood ash (0, 0.2855, 0.571 t ha⁻¹), and lime (0, 5, 10 t ha⁻¹). The integrated application significantly improved soil fertility, raising pH from 5.2 to 6.8 and increasing available phosphorus by 204.6%. The highest gain yield (4.31244 t ha⁻¹) was achieved with the 10-0.571-10 treatment combination. However, partial budget analysis revealed that the 5-0.571-10 (t ha⁻¹) treatment provided the highest net benefit (368,668 ETB ha⁻¹). In contrast, the 0-0.571-10 (t ha- 1) interaction emerged as the most economically efficient option, boasting a remarkable marginal rate of return of 791.71%. Consequently, an integrated approach using Biochar levels with wood ash and lime is recommended as a sustainable strategy for regional food security and for soil fertility management.