title: Fast pyrolysis biochar from sawdust improves the quality of desert soils and enhances plant growth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biochar has been mostly used in conventional arable soils for improving soil fertility. This study investigated the effect of biochars of different temperatures on plant growth and desert soil properties. Biochars of different temperatures (i.e. 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C) were mixed in the soil with 5% by mass, and the treatments were designated as T-400, T-500, T-600, T-700 and T-800, respectively. Sorghum was used as a test crop, and the effect of biochar on plant height, yield and soil properties was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sorghum yield increased by 19% and 32% under T-400 and T-700, respectively, above the control. Biochar reduced depth-wise moisture depletion in soil columns and hence improved soil water-holding capacity by 14% and 57% under T-400 and T-700, respectively. Soil hydraulic conductivity was reduced by 15% and 42%, and moisture-retention capacity was improved by 16% and 59%. Hence, sorghum net water-use efficiency increased by 52% and 74% in T-400 and T-700, respectively. Biochar also improved soil total carbon, cation exchange capacity and plant nutrient content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of fast pyrolysis biochar made from pine sawdust improved the quality of Kubuqi Desert soil and enhanced plant growth. Hence, it can be used for desert modification.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, P.R. China.|Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laghari
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Saffar
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mirjat
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tagar
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis; D002606:Charcoal; D000069599:Crop Production / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D003889:Desert Climate; D009753:Nutritive Value; D028223:Pinus; D063245:Plant Development; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D045868:Sorghum / Q000254:growth & development*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D014867:Water; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon
keywords: drought; moisture retention; plant nutrients; sorghum yield; water-holding capacity