Effect Of Prosopis Juliflora Biochar Amendment On Some Soil Properties The Case Of Salic Fluvisols From Melkawerer Research Station Ethiopia

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Prosopisrnjuliflora derived biochars on some properties of Salic Fluvisols collected from Melkarnwerer area. Five rates of biochars (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 12.5 t/ha) were arranged in arncompletely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. A total of 15 pots eachrncontaining 4 Kg of soil were laid out in greenhouse of Addis Ababa University AratrnKilo Campus. A 75 Kg of Salic Fluvisol with a pH of 9.05 , electricalrnconductivity(ECe ) of 9ds- m -1 and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of 20.5rnwere treated with biochar for period of 2 months ( 6 March- 6 May /2015 ).The resultrnindicated that biochar application has significantly ameliorated the sodicity andrnsalinity of the soil . Organic carbon, CEC, Tot.N, avail. P and exchangeable cationsrnlevels have increased significantly. The highest value of chemical properties werernrecorded for the pots received the highest rate (i.e. 12.5 t/ha), which significantlyrndecreased Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), pH and EC. The results suggestrnthe possiblies of putting PJ shrub into a productive use which is currently causingrnsevere rangeland degradation in the area. The result also suggest that biochar offers arncheap means of ameliorating saline/sodic soils which is a major problem for irrigatedrnagriculture in the middle AwashrnKEY WORDS: Prosopis juliflora Biochar, Saline soil, Chemical and physicalrnproperties.

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