Effect of biochar, azolla and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on physical and chemical properties changes of trees residues during composting

Document Type : Original Article

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Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt.

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to study the effect of adding biochar, Azolla combined with acid producing bacteria and plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the chemical and physical properties of the tree residues compost during aerobic decomposition. Five composting heaps were carry out in this study as follows; 1-control (T0), 2- heap supplied with bio char (T1), 3- heap supplied with Azolla (T2), 4- heap supplied with mixture of bacterial cultures (Bacillus megatherium , Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter chroococcum) (T3) and 5- heap supplied with biochar, Azolla plus mixture of bacterial cultures (T4). All compost heaps showed an rising in temperature after start of the composting reached to the highest peak values of 56, 60.2 , 61, 58.7, and 67.6 °C in day 10 for T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. Gradual decreasing of the organic matter, organic carbon and C/N ratio with increase of composting period process, on the other hand, progressive increases in % Ash, Total N, available P, total K, pH and EC with increasing of composting period process. Compost supplied with biochar, Azolla and mixed bacterial cultures (T4); recorded higher values of N, P and K contents compared to other treatments. These results indicated that, adding biochar, Azolla and bacterial cultures to trees residues during composting improve properties and nutritional value of the produced compost.

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