干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Tannery wastes can be used in soil as organic manure. The aim of this research was to study the effects of tannery wastes (before a chromium addition step) and biochar on soil chemical and physicochemical properties and radish yield. Treatments included three levels of tannery waste (0, 2.5, and 5%) and two levels of biochar (0 and 2.5 t ha(-1)) in a completely randomized design (factorial) with three replications. The treated pots were kept under field capacity condition for three months; thereafter, five radish seeds were sown at 1 cm depth in soil of each pot. The results showed that tannery wastes and biochar treatments resulted in an increase in soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents and their concentrations in radish root and above ground biomass, but electrical conductivity of soil was decreased and had no effect on soil potassium content. The tannery waste treatment increased soil pH after plant harvest. It also significantly increased radish fresh and dry matter weight, but the biochar treatment yielded a slight increase. It is concluded that application of tannery wastes and biochar may be useful due to their high nutrient contents in soils lacking organic carbon under arid and semi-arid regions, thereby improving growth and increasing plant yield.