1. i
BIOCHAR APPLICATION ON ERODIBILITY AND HYDROLOGIC
PROPERTIES OF AN OXISOL
BY
SOLOMON TAKWA, HABU
B. AGRIC (ABU)
MATRIC NUMBER 189138
A project report submitted to the Department Of Agronomy, Faculty
of Forestry and Agriculture, University of Ibadan Nigeria in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in
Agronomy (Soil physics) University of Ibadan Nigeria
JULY, 2016

2. ii
CERTTIFICATION
We certify that this work was carried out by Solomon Takwa Habu of the Department
of Agronomy University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria.
........................................................ ......................................
Dr S. O. Oshunsanya Date
Supervisor
Dr of Soil Science, Soil physics option
Department of Agronomy,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

3. iii
ABSTRACT
Biochar has been reported to be used as soil amendment for a degraded land.
However, information on the extent to which biochar could reduce hydrological
properties and consequently reducing erodibility of soils to water is scarce. Therefore, a
field experiment was conducted at Bowen University Teaching and Research farm to
investigate to what extent the addition of sawdust and gliricidia biochar could affect
particle size distribution, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, field capacity
and erodibility factor (K) of an oxisol. The field laid out in RCBD with eight treatments
replicated three times. Each replicate occupies 4m x 4m size of an area. Treatments
carried out include; control (no amendment), plot treated with 22.5kg N ha-1 mineral
fertilizer, plot treated with maize stuble residue, plot treated with 22.5kg N ha-1 mineral
fertilizer combine with maize stuble residue, plot treated with 2.5t C ha-1 sawdust
biochar, plot treated with 2.5t C ha-1 sawdust biochar combine with 22.5kg N ha-1
mineral fertilizer, plot treated with 2.5t C ha-1 gliricidia biochar and plot treated with
2.5t C ha-1 combine with 22.5kg N ha-1 mineral fertilizer. Incorporation of mineral
fertilizer to 15cm soil depth was carried out in 2012. After four years of application of
treatments, samples were taken at two predetermined soil depth (0-15 cm and 15-30
cm) to determine particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity, saturated
hydraulic conductivity, field capacity, erodibility factor (K), C:N ratio, organic carbon
and soil pH. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the SAS
version 9.0 a complete generalized linear model procedure. Correlation analysis was
also computed. Results indicate that soil amendments with the of gliricidia biochar or
in combination with mineral fertilizer could reduce erodibility of soil to water erosion.
Similarly, plot treated with gliricidia biochar alone significantly improve total porosity,
bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity at both 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm. The
contribution of sawdust and gliricidia biochars to soil improvement in terms of field
capacity, total porosity, soil erodibility and saturated hydraulic conductivity were
significantly higher at 0-15 cm than 15-30 cm depth, reflecting downward progressive
mineralizaion of biochar in the soil.
Key words; Biochar, erodibility, amendment, gliricidia, sawdust and degradation.

4. iv
DEDICATION
I dedicate this research work to Dr. S. O. Oshunsanya, Mr and Mrs Samuel Gyet and
the entire Propcommaikarfi Team. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Habu Takwa for their
love and prayers and to Captain Gabriel Thomos for his surport,

5. v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This project work could not have been a success without the grace and mercy of God
Almighty and many people who God has used to support me prayerfully, financially
and technically. I wish to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of those who
ensure the success of putting up this work.
I remain immeasurably grateful to Dr S. O. Oshunsanya, my supervisor and teacher. I
must confess that you are my role model that I look up to. Thank you for your
mentorship. May God continue to bless and preserve you Amen.
I acknowledge Mr Samuel Gyet, Mr Anthony Tanko and Aminu Dahiru for their never
ending encouragement. Thank you for your assistance.
I wish to express my profound gratitude to Propcommaikarfi.Without you i wouldn’t
have reached this far.
Special thanks go to my parents, Mr and Mrs.Takwa. Habu, for giving me the love,
spiritual and financial support.
I wish to express my profound gratitude to all my friends, my soil science classmates
and Agronomy Post graduate classmates.
I also appreciate Mr.Kingsley Akuwa, the analyst for his support in analysing my data.

6. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTs
PAGE
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
ABSTRACT iii -iv
DEDICATION v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LISTS OF TABLES viii
LISTS OF FIGURE ix
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 THE ORIGIN OF BIOCHAR
2.2 WHAT IS BIOCHAR?
2.3 PROCESS OF BIOCHAR FORMATION Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.4 PROPERTIES OF BIOCHAR
2.5 LARGE SURFACE AREA AND PRESENCE OF MICROPORES
2.6 ADSORPTIVE PROPERTY
2.7 STABILITY
2.8 RESTORING/IMPROVING SOIL PROPERTIES
2.9 Biochar and soil properties
2.10 Effect of biochar application on some soil physical properties
2.11 Soil surface area Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.12 Porosity
Error! Bookmark not defined.

7. vii
2.13 Bulk density Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.14 Aggregate stability Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.15 Penetration resistance Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.16 Hydrological properties Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.17 Water-holding capacity, water retention and moisture content Error!
Bookmark not defined.
2.18 Biochar and soil chemical properties Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.19 Effects of biochar application on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Error!
Bookmark not defined.
2.20 Biochar application strategies Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.21 Problems of soil application Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.22 Minimize erosion by water Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.23 Rate of biochar application
2.24 Interaction between biochar and soil Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.25 Biochar on soil physico-chemical properties Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.26 Effect of biochar on soil microorganisms Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.27 Biochar and Soil carbon sequestration Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.28 Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.29 Effect of biochar on crop yield
2.30 Liming effect
CHAPTER 3 Error! Bookmark not defined.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study area Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.2.1 Experimental materials Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.3.2 Experimental design and field layout Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.4 Land preparation Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5 Selected proximate properties of gliricidia sepium and Sawdust
3.5 Treatment application Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.6 Soil sampling and analysis Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5.1 Particle size distribution

8. viii
3.5.2 Saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC)
3.5.3 Bulk density
3.5.4 Total porosity Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5.5 C:N ratio Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5.6 Field capacity Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5.7 Soil pH
3.5.8 Organic carbon
3.6.1 Data analysis
CHAPTER 4 Error! Bookmark not defined.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1. Soil physical and chemical properties Error! Bookmark not defined.
4.2. Effect of biochar application on particle size distribution Error! Bookmark
not defined.
4.3. Effects of biochar application on saturated hydraulic conductivity Error!
Bookmark not defined.
4.4. Effects of biochar application on Total porosity Error! Bookmark not
defined.
4.5. Effects of biochar application on soil chemical properties Error! Bookmark
not defined.
4.6. Effects of biochar application on soil bulk density Error! Bookmark not
defined.
4.7 Effects of biochar application on field capacity
4.8 Effects of biochar application on soil erodibility
4.9 Correlation analysis between treatments and soil erodibility
CHAPTER 5 Error! Bookmark not defined.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSSION
REFERENCES Error! Bookmark not defined.

9. ix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1. Table: 1 Total elemental composition and means of biochars
Table 2.2 Impact of biochar on water holding capacity Error! Bookmark not
defined.
Table 3.1 Selected proximate properties of gliricidia sepium and Sawdust Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Table 4.1 Initial soil chemical and physical properties of the study site Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Table 4.2 Effects of biochar application on soil physical properties Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Table 4.3 Effects of biochar application on soil hydrological properties Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Table 4.4 Effects of biochar application on soil chemical properties Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Table 4.5 Effects of biochar application on soil erodibility
Table 4.6 Correlation matrix forsoil erodibility, treatments and soil propertiesError!
Bookmark not defined.

10. x
LIST OF FIGURES
FIG 1. Biochar loses during application and transportation Error! Bookmark
not defined.
FIG. 3.1. Saw dust before pyrolysis Error! Bookmark not defined.
FIG. 3.2. Saw dust after pyrolysis Error! Bookmark not defined.
FIG. 4.1 Effect of interaction between gliricidia biochar and soil on total porosity at
soil depth A (0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm)
FIG. 4.2 Contribution of gliricidia biochar amendment on distribution of total
porosity within soil depth A (0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm) Error! Bookmark not
defined.
FIG.4.3 Effect of interaction between SDB + MF and soil on SOC at soil depth A (0-
15 cm) and B (15-30cm) Error! Bookmark not defined.
FIG.4.4 Contribution of SDB+MF amendment on SOC distribution within soil depth
A (0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm)
FIG.4.5 Effect of interaction between residue and soil on field capacity at soil depth
A (0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm
FIG.4.6 Contribution of residue amendment on SOC distribution within soil depth A
(0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm)
FIG.4.7 Effect of interaction between residue and soil on field capacity at soil depth A
(0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm
FIG.4.8 Contribution of gliricidia biochar amendment on field capacity distribution
within soil depth A (0-15 cm) and B (15-30cm)

11. xi
TABLE OF CONTENT TABLE OF CONTENT TABLE OF CONTENT