Biochar and manure influences tomato fruit yield, heavy metal accumulation and concentration of soil nutrients under wastewater irrigation in arid climatic conditions

Abstract

Balochistan produces more than 40% of the total tomato production of Pakistan. The climate of this province is mostly arid, and agriculture around urban areas commonly depends on wastewater irrigation. This study evaluated under groundwater and wastewater irrigation the influence of wood-derived biochar, cow manure and their co-amendment (as 1:1 biochar:manure ratio) at 0.5 kg m−2 (or 5 t ha−1) and 1 kg m−2 (or 10 t ha−1) rate on fruit yield production of tomato, concentration of heavy metals (lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr)), nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of heavy metals (calculated as fruit yield/concentration of a given heavy metal in fruits) and the pH, concentration of mineral nitrogen (N) and soluble inorganic phosphorus (P) of tomato-grown soil. As compared to groundwater irrigation, the biomass and yield production was higher under wastewater irrigation. Organic amendments significantly improved yield production and tended to increase soil pH than control under both irrigation treatments. Wood-derived biochar applied at 1 kg m−2 caused the highest yield under both irrigation treatments. Organic amendments tended to reduce the concentration of Pb, Cu and Cr and increased the NUE of tomato fruits, indicating that fruits require less acquisition of heavy metals per unit yield production. Organic amendments increased the concentration of soluble inorganic P under wastewater irrigation. Our findings suggest that amendment of biochar, manure and their mixture promoted tomato fruit yield under both irrigation treatments, increased NUE of fruits for heavy metals and increased the concentration of soluble P under wastewater irrigation.