Effects of Biochar and Compost on Soil Nutrient Dynamics and pH in Alfisols across Two Cropping Cycles at Ibadan, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66132/ngas020101Keywords:
Biochar, Climate Smart Agriculture, Compost, Organic Soil Amendment, Soil pHAbstract
This study evaluated the residual effects of biochar and compost on soil nutrient dynamics and pH in an Alfisol over two tomato cropping cycles under screen house conditions at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Biochar and compost were produced from maize stover, cow dung and moringa leaves and applied at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 kg/ha in a completely randomized design with three replications. Soil samples collected after each cropping cycle were analyzed for pH, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable potassium (K). Biochar contained higher K (3.20 mg/kg) but slightly lower N and P than compost, which was richer in P (1.44 mg/kg), indicating contrasting short against long term nutrient availability. Across two cropping cycles, biochar-amended soils retained more N than the control, although N declined by 36–84.9% depending on rate, reflecting high N mobility. In contrast, biochar significantly increased soil P and K storage, with average increments of 112.98% and 405.9%, respectively, over one cropping cycle. Compost significantly enhanced N at 15 and 30 kg/ha (up to 12% increase) and sequestered P and K by 173.4% and 123.68% on average over two cycles. Both amendments increased soil pH from slightly acidic (~5.2) to near neutral–alkaline levels (7.6–7.8), demonstrating strong liming effects. Overall, biochar and compost proved complementary organic amendments for sustaining N, P and K availability and ameliorating soil acidity in Alfisols, supporting their use as climate-smart, low-input options for smallholder tomato production.
References
Abdolahi Arshad, M., Rangzan, N., & Nadian Ghomsheh, H. (2024). Effect of spent tea waste, compost and biochar on some growth parameters and concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under salinity stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 47(7), 1029-1044. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2023.2292763
Abebe, T. G., Tamtam, M. R., Abebe, A. A., Abtemariam, K. A., Shigut, T. G., Dejen, Y. A., & Haile, E. G. (2022). Growing use and impacts of chemical fertilizers and assessing alternative organic fertilizer sources in Ethiopia. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2022(1), 4738416. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4738416
Adugna, G. (2016). A review on impact of compost on soil properties, water use and crop productivity. Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research, 4(3), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.14662/ARJASR2016.010
Akanmu, A. O., Olowe, O. M., Phiri, A. T., Nirere, D., Odebode, A. J., Karemera Umuhoza, N. J., Asemoloye, M. D., & Babalola, O. O. (2023). Bioresources in organic farming: implications for sustainable agricultural systems. Horticulturae, 9(6), 659. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060659
Bremaghani, A. (2024). Utilization of organic waste in compost fertilizer production: implications for sustainable agriculture and nutrient management. Law and Economics, 18(2), 86-98.
Bremner, J. M. (1996). Nitrogen-total. In Sparks, D.L., (Eds.): Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3 Chemical Methods. SSSA Book Series 5, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, pp: 1085-1122. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.3.c37
Dimkpa, C., Adzawla, W., Pandey, R., Atakora, W. K., Kouame, A. K., Jemo, M., & Bindraban, P. S. (2023). Fertilizers for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview of soil health implications. Frontiers in Soil Science, 3, 1123931.https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1123931
Fornes, F., Lidón, A., Belda, R. M., Macan, G. P., Cayuela, M. L., Sánchez-García, M., & Sánchez-Monedero, M. A. (2024). Soil fertility and plant nutrition in an organic olive orchard after 5 years of amendment with compost, biochar or their blend. Scientific reports, 14(1), 16606. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67565-x
Giudicianni, P., Gargiulo, V., Grottola, C.M., Alfè, M., Ferreiro, A.I., Mendes, M.A.A., Fagnano, M. & Ragucci, R., 2021. Inherent metal elements in biomass pyrolysis: a review. Energy & fuels, 35(7), pp.5407-5478. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c04046
Goldan, E., Nedeff, V., Barsan, N., Culea, M., Panainte-Lehadus, M., Mosnegutu, E., Tomozei, C., Chitimus, D., & Irimia, O. (2023). Assessment of manure compost used as soil amendment—A review. Processes, 11(4), 1167. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11041167
Ibitoye, R. G., Tijani, F. O., Adeboye, O. B., Akinde, B. P., & Oyedele, D. J. (2024). Prescribed fire and grass mulch impact on selected soil properties and amelioration potentials of amendments under an agricultural field in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Soil and Tillage research, 244, p. 106249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106249
Kebede, T., Diriba, D., & Boki, A. (2023). The effect of organic solid waste compost on soil properties, growth, and yield of Swiss chard crop (Beta vulgaris L.). The Scientific World Journal, 2023(1), 6175746. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6175746
Kottegoda, N., Nimanka, S., Fernando, N., de Silva, M., & Munaweera, I. (2023). Climate smart agriculture: the role of fertilizer innovations and efficient plant nutrient management. Vidyodaya Journal of Science, 1(s1). https://dx.doi.org/10.31357/vjs.v1is1.6709
Kugedera, A. T., Kubiku, F. N. M., Gotosa, J., & Mpofu, L. (2025). Unlocking the Potential of Biochar for Sustainable Agriculture: Effects on Soil Fertility and Crop Yields. In Climate Change, Food Security, and Land Management: Strategies for a Sustainable Future (pp. 1-21). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71164-0_21-1
Kuo, S. (1996). Phosphorus. In J. M. Bartels, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Pp: 869 – 919. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.3.c32
Luo, Z., Li, Y., Pei, X., Woon, K. S., Liu, M., Lin, X., Zheng, H., Yongtao, L., & Zhang, Z. (2024). A potential slow-release fertilizer based on biogas residue biochar: Nutrient release patterns and synergistic mechanism for improving soil fertility. Environmental Research, 252, 119076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119076
Mahmoud, Y., Njenga, M., Sundberg, C., & de Nowina, K. R. (2021). Soils, sinks, and smallholder farmers: Examining the benefits of biochar energy transitions in Kenya. Energy Research & Social Science, 75, 102033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102033
Mckenzie, I., Diana, S., Jaikishun, S., & Ansari, A. (2022). Comparative review of aerobic and anaerobic composting for the reduction of organic waste. Agricultural Reviews, 43(2), 234-238. https://doi.org/10.18805/ag.R-191
Mi, J., Hou, L., Hou, Y., Song, C., Pan, L., & Wei, Z. (2025). Enhancing compost quality: Biochar and zeolite's role in nitrogen transformation and retention. Science of The Total Environment, 963, 178490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178490
Ndubo, O. T. (2023). Effect of compost amendments on soil physicochemical properties, plant growth and efficient use of water, nitrogen and phosphorus in maize (zea mays l) (Doctoral dissertation, Botswana University of Agriculture & Natural Resources).
Noulas, C., Torabian, S., & Qin, R. (2023). Crop nutrient requirements and advanced fertilizer management strategies. Agronomy, 13(8), 2017. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082017
Oguike, P. C., & Mbagwu, J. S. C. (2009). Variation in some physical properties and organic matters content of soils of coastal plain sand under different land use types.world journal of agricultural science, 5, pp. 63-67.
Olakayode, A. O., Akinde, B. P., Oyedele, D. J., & Tijani, F. O. (2020). Agricultural land-use effects on soil cation exchange capacity, organic carbon and total nitrogen in soil aggregate-sized fractions in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. African journal of organic agriculture and ecology, 4, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4738481
Pan, S. Y., Dong, C. D., Su, J. F., Wang, P. Y., Chen, C. W., Chang, J. S., Kim, H., Huang, C. P., & Hung, C. M. (2021). The role of biochar in regulating the carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycles exemplified by soil systems. Sustainability, 13(10), 5612. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105612
Pandian, K., Vijayakumar, S., Mustaffa, M. R. A. F., Subramanian, P., & Chitraputhirapillai, S. (2024). Biochar–a sustainable soil conditioner for improving soil health, crop production and environment under changing climate: a review. Frontiers in soil science, 4, 1376159. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2024.1376159
Paradelo, R., Navarro-Pedreño, J., Glaser, B., Grobelak, A., Kowalska, A., & Singh, B. R. (2023). Potential and constraints of use of organic amendments from agricultural residues for improvement of soil properties. Sustainability, 16(1), 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010158
Ranjan, S., Kumar, S., Dutta, S. K., Sow, S., Kumar, S., & Sushant. (2023). Long-term organic amendment application improves soil fertility status, nutrient accumulation and crop productivity under rice-wheat cropping system. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 54(18), 2579-2589. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2023.2227240
Reda, A., & Hailu, A. H. (2017). Extensive utilization of inorganic fertilizers in ethiopian agriculture and its possible consequences on soil quality. Journal of Integrative Agricultural Science, 13(4), 155-171. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wjas.2017.155.171
Rogers, P. M., Fridahl, M., Yanda, P., Hansson, A., Pauline, N., & Haikola, S. (2021). Socio-economic determinants for biochar deployment in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Energies, 15(1), 144. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010144
Rynk, R., Van de Kamp, M., Willson, G. B., Singley, M. E., Richard, T. L., Kolega, J. J., Gouin, F. R., Tom, L., Murphy, D., Horlink, H. A., Laliberty, L., & Brinton, W. F. (1992). On-farm composting handbook (NRAES 54).
Sánchez-Monedero, M. A., Cayuela, M. L., Sánchez-García, M., Vandecasteele, B., D’Hose, T., López, G., Martinez-Gaitan, C., Kuikman, P. J., Sinicco, T., & Mondini, C. (2019). Agronomic evaluation of biochar, compost and biochar-blended compost across different cropping systems: Perspective from the European project FERTIPLUS. Agronomy, 9(5), 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9050225
Sardans, J., & Peñuelas, J. (2021). Potassium control of plant functions: Ecological and agricultural implications. Plants, 10(2), 419. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020419
Signh, N. K., Sachan, K., Bp M., Panotra, N., & Katiyar, D. (2024). Building soil health and fertility through organic amendments and practices: a review. Asian journal of soil science and plant nutrtion 10(1), 175-197. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajsspn/2024/v10i1224
Sumner, M. E., & Miller, W. P. (1996). Cation exchange capacity and exchange coefficients. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy, USA. Pp: 1201–1229. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.3.c40
Tefera, M. L., Carletti, A., Altea, L., Rizzu, M., Migheli, Q., & Seddaiu, G. (2024). Land degradation and the upper hand of sustainable agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan Africa-A systematic review. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS), 125(1), 63-83. https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-202403129757
Thomas, G. W. (1996). Soil pH and Soil Acidity. In: Sparks, D.L., (eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 3 Chemical Methods, Book Series No. 5, SSSA and ASA, Madison, WI. Pp:475 – 489. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.3.c16
Valenzuela, H. (2024). Optimizing the nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable crops. Nitrogen, 5(1), 106-143. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen5010008
Wali, F., Sardar, S., Naveed, M., Asif, M., Nezhad, M. T. K., Baig, K. S., Bashir, M., & Mustafa, A. (2022). Effect of consecutive application of phosphorus-enriched biochar with different levels of P on growth performance of maize for two successive growing seasons. Sustainability, 14(4), 1987. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14041987
You, M., Guo, D., Shi, H., He, P., Burger, M., & Li, L. J. (2025). Microbial nutrient limitations and chemical composition of soil organic carbon regulate the organic carbon mineralization and temperature sensitivity in forest and grassland soils. Plant and Soil, 514(1), 459-476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07408-4
Zerssa, G. W. (2022). Soil nutrient management practices towards climate-smart agriculture: mitigation, adaptation and sustainable yield intensification in a Nitisol in Southwestern Ethiopia (Doctoral dissertation, Dissertation, Rostock, Universität Rostock, 2023). https://doi.org/10.18453/rosdok_id00004362
Zhang, S., Zhu, Q., de Vries, W., Ros, G. H., Chen, X., Muneer, M. A., Zhang, F., & Wu, L. (2023). Effects of soil amendments on soil acidity and crop yields in acidic soils: A world-wide meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Management, 345, 118531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118531
Zhang, Y., Fan, S., Liu, T., Fu, W., & Li, B. (2022). A review of biochar prepared by microwave-assisted pyrolysis of organic wastes. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 50, 101873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101873
Zhao, Y., Lu, Y., Zhuang, H., & Shan, S. (2023). In-situ retention of nitrogen, phosphorus in agricultural drainage and soil nutrients by biochar at different temperatures and the effects on soil microbial response. Science of the Total Environment, 904, 166292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166292
Zubairu, A. M., Michéli, E., Ocansey, C. M., Boros, N., Rétháti, G., Lehoczky, É., & Gulyás, M. (2023). Biochar improves soil fertility and crop performance: A case study of Nigeria. Soil Systems, 7(4), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040105
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 G. O. Elumalero, E. A. Akinrinde, Odunayo Olamide AKINBILE, M. O. Apenah, A. A. Ogunbela, B. P. Akinde, V. A. Diekade, M. T. Folarin, C. C. Chibuogwu, R. A. Somoye
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
