Short-Term Effect of Biochar on Microbial Biomass, Respiration and Enzymatic Activities in Wastewater Irrigated Soils in Urban Agroecosystems of the West African Savannah

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAsirif, I.
dc.contributor.authorWerner, S.
dc.contributor.authorHeinze, S.
dc.contributor.authorSaba, C.K.S.
dc.contributor.authorLawson, I.Y.D.
dc.contributor.authorMarschner, B.
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-23T10:07:41Z
dc.date.available2021-12-23T10:07:41Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionResearch Articleen_US
dc.description.abstractIrrigated urban agriculture (UA) supports the economy and health of urban inhabitants in low-income countries. This system is often characterized by high nutrient inputs and mostly utilizes wastewater for irrigation. Biochar has been proposed to increase crop yields and improve soil properties. In this study, we assessed the transient effect of rice husk biochar (20 t ha−1 ) and/or fertilizer (NPK: 15-15-15) on microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activities of irrigated (wastewater and tap water) soil from an UA field experiment in the Guinea savannah zones of Ghana. Our results showed an increase by up to 123% in soil organic carbon (SOC) after a year of biochar application, while hot water extractable carbon (HWEC) was increased by only 11 to 26% and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 34%. Basal respiration was significantly increased in mineral fertilized soil by up to 46% but decreased by 12–45% under wastewater irrigation. Overall, the metabolic quotient (qCO2 ) indicated less stress for the microbial community and increased carbon use efficiency with biochar application and wastewater irrigation. Total enzymes activity was increased under wastewater irrigation and biochar treated soils exhibit a more diverse composition of C-cycling enzymes and a higher activity of aminopeptidases. Biochar and wastewater showed positive effects on biological soil properties and contributed to soil fertility. Our results suggest beneficial effects of biochar on non-biochar SOC stocks in the long term.en_US
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020271
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/37379
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjecturban agricultureen_US
dc.subjectwastewateren_US
dc.subjectbiocharen_US
dc.subjectmicrobial activitiesen_US
dc.subjectfertilizationen_US
dc.titleShort-Term Effect of Biochar on Microbial Biomass, Respiration and Enzymatic Activities in Wastewater Irrigated Soils in Urban Agroecosystems of the West African Savannahen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Shortterm-effect-of-biochar-on-microbial-biomass-respiration-and-enzymatic-activities-in-wastewater-irrigated-soils-in-urban-agroecosystems-of-the-west-african-savannahAgronomy.pdf
Size:
1.28 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.6 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Department of Soil Science