Optimization of Biochar Application for Improving Soil Water Holding Capacity
DOI:
10.29303/jbt.v26i1.11493Published:
2026-03-31Downloads
Abstract
Water scarcity limits soil productivity, but applying biochar can effectively enhance soil water retention in vulnerable areas. This study evaluated the effects of biochar types and application rates on the maximum moisture content of sandy soils in Gunungkidul, Indonesia. A completely randomized design was used to test rice husk and blotong biochar, alongside raw rice husk and a control, at varying application rates. Maximum soil moisture capacity was experimentally measured to determine treatment efficacy. Results indicated that biochar application significantly influenced soil moisture retention. Among the treatments, a lower application rate of rice husk biochar provided the most substantial improvement in water holding capacity compared to the control. Conversely, higher rates of biochar or the use of raw materials were less effective and, in some cases, reduced water retention. Conclusively, optimizing both the biochar feedstock and its application rate is critical; specific low-dose biochar applications can optimally enhance soil moisture retention, offering a practical strategy for sustainable agricultural management in semi-arid regions.
Keywords:
Filter cake, rice husk, soil physical properties, water holding capacity.References
Li, Z., Zheng, Z., Li, H., Xu, D., Li, X., Xiang, L., & Tu, S. (2023). Review on Rice Husk Biochar as an Adsorbent for Soil and Water Remediation. Plants, 12(7), 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071524
Naorem, A., Jayaraman, S., Dang, Y. P., Dalal, R. C., Sinha, N. K., Rao, Ch. S., & Patra, A. K. (2023). Soil Constraints in an Arid Environment—Challenges, Prospects, and Implications. Agronomy, 13(1), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010220
Sun, F., & Lu, S. (2014). Biochars improve aggregate stability, water retention, and pore‐space properties of clayey soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 177(1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201200639
Wijitkosum, S. (2022). Biochar derived from agricultural wastes and wood residues for sustainable agricultural and environmental applications. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 10(2), 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.09.006
Zhang, J., Gu, G., Ji, C., Zhou, Y., Li, J., Peng, C., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Yang, S., & E, T. (2026). Oxygen-limited pyrolysis drives biochar-clay mineral interface composite for synergistic improvement of soil quality and carbon sequestration. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 728, 138768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.138768
Zhang, Y., Ding, J., Wang, H., Su, L., & Zhao, C. (2020). Biochar addition alleviate the negative effects of drought and salinity stress on soybean productivity and water use efficiency. BMC Plant Biology, 20(1), 288. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02493-2
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhamad Fajar Sidiq, Reza Widyasaputra, Galang Indra Jaya, Mohammad Prasanto Bimantio, Amir Noviyanto, Moh Galih Purnama Jati, Bintang Wahyu Prasetyo, Arief Almuqhori Eka Nugraha
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.
