THE EFFECTS OF BIOCHAR AND VERMICOMPOST APPLICATIONS ON SOME ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN RHIZOSPHERE ROOT ZONE OF CORN (Zea Mays L.) PLANT

Abstract

In this study, one examined the use of hazelnut shell, which in Ordu, Turkey, is only used as a fuel by transforming it into biochar as a soil regulator and this new substance was compared with vermicompost. With the study performed under greenhouse conditions, the biochar and vermicompost were blended at varying amounts into the soil and the changes created by the corn plant (Zea Mays L.) were evaluated in the rhizosphere zone. In the greenhouse environment, various amounts of biochar and vermicompost blends were added (control, 100% BC, 100% VC, 75% BC+ 25% VC, 25% BC+ 75% VC, 50% BC+ 50% VC) into the soil taken from a garden in the province centre of Ordu. The experiments were carried out according to Completely Randomized Design with six replications. The application of biochar and vermicopost, increased the CO2 production, microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase, aryl sulfatase and urease enzyme activities. It was determined that the organic material, total-N, and the C content of biochar is radically higher than vermicompost and an environment of 100% BC is not sufficient, thus it is more convenient to use it mixed with an organic waste containing a rather lower C/N concentration.