Comparative analysis and prediction of cation exchange capacity via summation: influence of biochar type and nutrient ratios

Introduction Enhancing soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) is of paramount importance for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health. This study investigated the pivotal role of biochar in altering soil CEC and challenges conventional assumptions about universal effects of biochar application.Methods Contrasting biochar types, one with a low ash content of 4.4% (switchgrass-derived biochar, SGB) and the other with a high ash content of 45.9% (poultry litter-derived biochar, PLB) were used. Two experiments treated with increasing biochar application rates were conducted: one without plants and the other grown with ryegrass. Effective CEC (summation method) was determined by two extraction methods: Mehlich-3 (M3) and ammonium acetate (AA).Results and discussion The SGB decreased CEC by 27% on average (from both experiments) from the lowest to the highest rate of biochar application, while the PLB significantly increased CEC by 91%. This highlights the critical role of biochar properties in influencing CEC dynamics. In the second experiment, ryegrass cultivation revealed the greater importance of the calcium and magnesium/potassium ratio ([Ca+Mg]/K) in the soil CEC than CEC only for plant growth in biochar-amended soils. The ratios for optimum ryegrass production ranged from 82-86 (M3) and 69-74 (AA), which was translated to 88:11:1 Ca:Mg:K percent base saturation ratios. Moreover, predictive models for estimation of soil CEC after biochar application were successfully developed based on initial soil and biochar CEC. However, M3 was more reliable than AA for such predictions mainly because it was more successful in predicting nutrient availability from biochar. These models offer a promising tool for informed soil management decisions.Conclusion This research emphasizes the importance of biochar feedstock, elucidates nutrient ratio effects on plant growth, and provides a practical means to anticipate soil CEC changes post-biochar application.