TABLE 1.
Physicochemical characteristics and nutritional composition of compost, biochar, co-composted biochar, and soil utilized in this study.
| Physical/chemical properties | Soil | Compost | Biochar | Co-composted biochar |
| Textural class | Sandy clay loam | – | – | – |
| Sand (%) | 56 ± 3.21 | – | – | – |
| Silt (%) | 24 ± 1.86 | – | – | – |
| Clay (%) | 20 ± 1.57 | – | – | – |
| pH | 7.88 ± 0.35 | 6.85 ± 0.03 | 7.964 ± 0.08 | 7.01 ± 0.09 |
| Electrical conductivity (dS m–1) | 1.06 ± 0.08 | 1.2 ± 0.01 | 2.75 ± 0.07 | 1.58 ± 0.08 |
| Cation exchange capacity (cmolc kg–1) | 6.85 ± 1.62 | 73.01 ± 2.11 | 98.46 ± 2.86 | 92.35 ± 2.38 |
| Moisture % | 26 ± 1.26 | 10.57 ± 1.18 | 4.25 ± 0.19 | 7.32 ± 1.08 |
| Organic matter (%) | 0.72 ± 0.18 | – | – | – |
| Carbon (g kg–1) | – | 199.2 ± 3.68 | 633.51 ± 5.67 | 398.92 ± 4.33 |
| Nitrogen (g kg–1) | – | 21.8 ± 1.26 | 11.25 ± 0.86 | 16.42 ± 0.67 |
| Total phosphorus (g kg–1) | – | 0.42 ± 0.05 | 1.43 ± 0.54 | 1.18 ± 0.67 |
| Total potassium (g kg–1) | – | 1.67 ± 0.18 | 9.29 ± 0.22 | 7.32 ± 0.63 |
| Zinc (mg kg–1) | – | 47.0 ± 3.70 | 45.61 ± 2.91 | 46.27 ± 2.87 |
| Iron (mg kg–1) | – | 70.8 ± 4.09 | 85.31 ± 4.76 | 82.29 ± 3.67 |
The values are presented as mean ± SE (n = 3).