Managing organic carbon of sandy clay loam soil with organic amendments to promote particle aggregation

Abstract

Today’s agriculture is subjected to the threat of soil structure, organic carbon, and fertility disruption because of intensive cultivation to feed the burgeoning population. The application of organic wastes directly increases organic carbon in the soil that in turn can help to restore soil structure and fertility. An incubation experiment was conducted to assess the behavior of different organic amendments contributing to soil aggregation and carbon retention. The application rate of farmyard manure (FYM) at 1.5% was categorized best in yielding better aggregation, and this level was used for testing other amendments. A 42-day incubation experiment was conducted using farm manure, poultry manure, biochar, fly ash, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, and molasses as organic amendments to test their impact on soil aggregation, total and aggregate carbon, and mineralization of applied carbon. Poultry manure and farm manure yielded maximum large-sized (0.25 to >1 mm) water-stable aggregates that also carried more carbon than other treatments, while biochar yielded more total organic carbon as is least degradable. It is concluded that easily decomposable organic wastes (farm manure, poultry manure, and molasses) are a better option to restore soil structure than resistant organic wastes as bind the particles together more effectively to stabilize the structure.