Biochar and Fly Ash Role in Improving Mechanical and Physical Properties of Vertisol
Biochar and Fly Ash Role in Improving Mechanical and Physical Properties of Vertisol
Zaffar Malik, Moazzam Jamil, Ghulam Hassan Abassi, Muhammmad Nafees, Muhammad Rafey and Muhammad Kamran
ABSTRACT
Ameliorative effects of soil amendments on the physico-mechanical properties of vertic soils were studied. The potential soil amendments were fly ash (FA) and three types of biochar (straw biochar (SB), woodchips biochar (WCB), waste water sludge biochar (WSB). The physical and mechanical parameters of vertic soil like soil consistency limits like plastic limit (PL), liquid limit (LL) and plasticity index (PI), tensile strength (TS), shear strength (cohesion (C) and angle of friction (φ)) were studied. Results showed that amendments had improved soil physico-mechanical properties. No specific trends were observed for consistency limit, however, PI decreased for all the amendments applied and LL showed correlation with φ and TS. Significant reduction (p≤ 0.05) in the coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) was found for all amendments and the effect of WSB and FA was more pronounced. The values of TS decreased for all amendments while a reduction of 37%, 43.99% and 61.32% was observed at 2, 4 and 6% of applied SB amendment. The C values decreased significantly for all the amendments and effect of SB and WCB was more prominent, as compared to other amendments. No specific trends, however was observed for φ. Pearson correlation indicated that all the properties i.e., COLE, TS, C, and φ, were significantly correlated with each other. Both fly ash and biochar significantly improved the physico-mechanical parameters of vertisols. However, low doses (2%) of straw biochar were more beneficial by keeping in view the availability and economic level of the landholders.
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