Effects of chicken feather hydrochar on soil amelioration and plant growth in an alkaline soil

The study was conducted to discover the effects of chicken feather (CF) hydrochar on soil properties, seed germination, and plant growth in an alkaline soil. The treatment consisted of four rates of hydrochar (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 t ha−1), two rates of inorganic P fertilizer (0.01 g P kg−1 and 0.02 g P kg−1), and control. A pot experiment with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was conducted by applying hydrochar with or without P fertilizer, followed by a complete randomized block design with five replications. This study’s findings revealed that pH and CEC of the soil did increase. Available PO4-P in soil also rose with a high dose of hydrochar applied, but it was not statistically significant. Adding hydrochar inhibited the seed germination percentage at high doses due to its phytotoxic effects. Investigations also showed no significant positive change in height, fresh and dry weight of tomato plants. The shoot content of P decreased at 7.5 and 10 t ha−1 hydrochar rates, while the PO4-P concentration in soil increased at the same application rate. It was concluded that chicken feather hydrochar may have phytotoxic effects on improve soil parameters and plant accessible nutrients in alkaline soil.