Abstract

The experiments were carried out to study the characteristics of biochar made from rice husk and its potential as a soil
amendment in acid soils. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis; after which it was applied as a soil amendment. The soil
was incubated for 30 days, and then it was planted with rice. For comparison, soil was applied with: rice straw, rice
husk, rice husk ash, Chromolaena odorata biomass, and no soil amendment. The characteristics of biochar were: water
content 4.96%, pH 8.70, C 18.72%, P 0.12%, CEC 17.57cmol kg-1, K 0.20%, Ca 0.41%, Mg 0.62%, and Na 1.40%.
Application of biochar decreased soil bulk density, soil strength, exchangeable Al, and soluble Fe and increased porosity,
available soil water content, C-organic, soil pH, available P, CEC, exchangeable K, and Ca. Out of these improvements,
only soil carbon, phosphorus, exchangeable Al, soluble Fe, and soil strength significantly influenced rice biomass.

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