Does biochar influence soil physical properties and soil water availability and effects of biochar on the compression and swelling characteristics of clayey soils?
Of course, yeas, biochar influences soil physical properties &soil water availability &effects of biochar on compression &swelling characteristics of clayey soils
Biochar increases wet aggregate stability by 3 to 226%, improves soil consistency, and has mixed effects on dry soil aggregate stability. It increases available water by 4 to 130%. Biochar can improve the soil physiochemical properties, such as water infiltration, water holding capacity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity to accommodate cultivation, and increase agricultural productivity. Biochar has been shown to improve soil structure, soil aggregate stability and porosity, water-holding capacity and nutrient cycling, tensile strength and penetration resistance, and soil infiltration and reduce runoff and decrease erosion and biochar can increase the soil water retention capacity (WRC). With such improved hydraulic properties, agricultural soils can hold a greater amount of water for longer [28], which can then reduce irrigation requirements and frequency. Biochar can effectively reduce the compressibility of clayey soils due to the high CEC and low-density characteristics of biochar. The effect of biochar application on clay soil water retention was studied by conventional water retention curve approach indicate that the internal pores of biochar, with sizes of at 50 and 10 μm (equivalent pore diameter), increased soil porosity and the amount of readily plant available water.
Does biochar influence soil physical properties and soil water availability?
Marcus H et al(.2014) Plant and Soil , 376:347-361.
Conclusion :No evidence to suggest application of biochar influenced soil porosity either by direct pore contribution, creation of accommodation pores, or improved aggregate stability. Very Interesting article, available on research gate site