Effect of Charcoal On Soil Microbial Activity and Nutrient Pool of Recultivated Post Lignite Soils.

The beneficial effects of black carbon on soil fertility, crop production, and nutrient availability have increasingly come into sharp focus in recent times. However, little is known on its impact when used in combination with other organic based soil conditioners in the initial amelioration post lignite mine soils poor in nutrient. In this study, we intend to investigate the effect of a commercially produced charcoal in combination with an organic based commercial soil additive (CSA) on microbial properties and nutrient pool in reclaimed post lignite mine soils in the Lusatia mining region of Germany under green house conditions. Field soil samples collected will be potted and subjected to the following treatments: (i) soil without charcoal and CSA addition (control), (ii) soil amended with only CSA, (iii) soil with only charcoal addition, and (iv) soils amended with a mixture of charcoal and CSA. Each treatment will have four replicates and all treatments will be seeded with orchard grass. Initial soil microbial and chemical properties will be characterised prior to soil amendments. Besides, physico-chemical properties of the charcoal and CSA will also be determined. Soil samples will be taken from each treatment every three months over a period of one year to assess any changes in microbial and chemical properties under investigation.