Integrated application of biochar and chemical fertilizers improves wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) productivity by enhancing soil microbial activities

Aim Integrating chemical and organic fertilizers not only improves soil biological health and plant growth but also reduces costs of agricultural production, and hence, is an economically feasible approach to sustain plant growth in developing countries. Methods We performed a field experiment to evaluate the impact of poultry litter-derived biochar (BC; 10 and 20 t ha −1 ) with and without chemical fertilizers (CF) on soil nutrient availability, microbial abundance, and soil enzymatic activity. Results Combined application of BC and CF significantly increased soil nutritional status and soil organic carbon (SOC), however these improvements were more prominent at higher BC level (20 t ha −1 ), which increased soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus by 27, 58, and 61%, respectively. Furthermore, BC20 + CF treatment improved soil microbial abundances such as actinomycetes (24%), bacteria (70%), AMF (49%) and saprophytic fungi (38%). In terms of wheat growth and yield attributes, BC20 + CF application enhanced spike length (55%), leaf area index (30%), tillers (12%), along with biological yield (26%) and grain yield (36%). BC20 + CF application was positively correlated with different soil enzymatic activities i.e. urease (24%), dehydrogenase (44%), and β-glucosidase (93%). Principal component analysis (PCA) analysis also showed that co-application of BC at the rate of 20 t ha −1 along with CF was the most efficient treatment for improving soil nutrient status and microbial activities. Conclusions Hence, soil supplementation with BC along with CF improved soil biochemical characteristics and nutrients availability for longer time, resulting in better and more sustainable agricultural production. Graphical Abstract