Effect of Prosopis juliflora Biochar on Physico-Chemical Properties of Naphthalene and Phenanthrene Contaminated Soil

Soil properties are significantly influenced by the addition of biochar. Biochar improves soil quality as it increases the soil alkalinity, surface negative charge, nutrient retention capacity, porosity, organic carbon content and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The present research based on pot study was carried out in October 2015 to April 2016 with Prosopis juliflora biochar. We investigated the effect of different concentrations of biochar (1%, 5% and 10%) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (50 mg/kg naphthalene and 100 mg/kg phenanthrene) on various physico-chemical parameters of sandy soil. Biochar application significantly helps to reduce the soil bulk density by 8.40%, 13.95% and 17.61%, respectively, as compared to control. Similarly, percent soil space was effectively decreased with increased biochar application rate from 8.4% to 17%. Porosity and water holding capacity were significantly increased with biochar application rate (0% < 1% <5% <10%). The non-significant (p ≤ 0.05) results were observed in case of increase in pH and electrical conductivity values in biochar-amended and non-biochar amended soil samples. CEC and soil organic carbon values were significantly increased from 26.54 to 33.18% and 38.54 to 51.63%, respectively, in 10% biochar-amended soil as compared to biochar non-amended soil. However, biochar nourishes soil that could be safely applied in agriculture for improvement of soil health and crop yield.