Some effects of spent mushroom compost and bagasse biochar on alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphorus availability in some calcareous soils

Phosphorus deficiency is a common disorder for agriculture in calcareous soils. To study the effects of spent mushroom compost (SMC) and sugar cane bagasse biochar (B) on alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphorus availability in three soil types (that is) loam, clay loam, and sandy loam, an incubation experiment was conducted. The treatments included levels of biochar B1 and B2 (15 and 30 ton.ha-1), levels of spent mushroom compost SMC1 and SMC2 (20 and 40 ton.ha-1) and the control (C). After applying treatments in 14, 60, and 120 days, T1, T2, and T3 respectively, available phosphorus and pH were measured and alkaline phosphatase activity at T3 period was also measured. The results indicated that in all soil samples SMC increased phosphatase activity, But biochar was ineffective in sandy loam soil. Average phosphatase activity in control treatment was 2090, 2931 and 2888 µg PNP.g-1Soil. h-1 at sandy loam, loam and clay loam, respectively and was increased to 3034, 3709 and 3533 µg PNP.g-1Soil. h-1 in SMC2 treatment, respectively. Both levels of SMC also caused increase in phosphorus availability, while biochar was less effective on that. SMC2 treatment showed the best effectiveness on increasing phosphorus availability. So that available phosphorus average was increased from19.4, 8.8 and 3.9 mg.Kg-1 in control treatments to 37, 28 and 22 mg.Kg-1 in SMC2 treatment for sandy loam, loam and clay loam soils respectively. Application of SMC reduced soils pH while biochar increased that. Results indicated that SMC has a positive effect on phosphorus availability and improves other properties including pH in calcareous soils.