Solutions to Rice Field Degradation in Bona: Evaluating the Effects of Activated Char and Digestate on Low-Yield Soils

Agricultural soil degradation is a major global challenge that threatens food security and sustainable agricultural production through nutrient depletion, erosion, soil salinization, and the loss of organic matter. These processes lead to significant physicochemical changes in rice paddy soils. In the search for sustainable solutions, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two types of biofertilizers, namely activated char and digestate. These products were tested on low-yield soils in the village of Bona, Senegal. The experiment consisted of applying 180 g of lemon juice-treated activated char or 180 g of digestate to a 420 g soil samples. A 600 g untreated soil sample served as the control. Physicochemical analyses were conducted on all treatments over a 15-day period to evaluate their effects on soil characteristics. The results showed that the activated char amendment was the most effective treatment, due to its high adsorption capacity, water retention capacity, and ability to regulate fluctuations in chemical components (NPK). In addition, all treatments improved soil pH campered to the control. However, the salinity (620 - 860 mg/kg) observed in the soil amended with digestate may negatively affect rice yields.