@article{fdi:010064144,
  title = {{I}mpact of compost, vermicompost and biochar on soil fertility, maize yield and soil erosion in {N}orthern {V}ietnam : a three year mesocosm experiment},
  author = {{D}oan, {T}. {T}. and {H}enry des {T}ureaux, {T}hierry and {R}umpel, {C}. and {J}aneau, {J}ean-{L}ouis and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}ompost, vermicompost and biochar amendments are thought to improve soil quality and plant yield. {H}owever, little is known about their long-term impact on crop yield and the environment in tropical agro-ecosystems. {I}n this study we investigated the effect of organic amendments (buffalo manure, compost and verrnicompost) and biochar (applied alone or with vermicompost) on plant yield, soil fertility, soil erosion and water dynamics in a degraded {A}crisol in {V}ietnam. {M}aize growth and yield, as well as weed growth, were examined for three years in terrestrial mesocosms under natural rainfall. {M}aize yield and growth showed high inter-annual variability depending on the organic amendment. {V}ermicompost improved maize growth and yield but its effect was rather small and was only significant when water availability was limited (year 2). {T}his suggests that vermicompost could be a promising substrate for improving the resistance of agrosystems to water stress. {W}hen the vermicompost biochar mixture was applied, further growth and yield improvements were recorded in some cases. {W}hen applied alone, biochar had a positive influence on maize yield and growth, thus confirming its interest for improving long-term soil productivity. {A}ll organic amendments reduced water runoff, soil detachment and {NH}4+ and {NO}3- transfer to water. {T}hese effects were more significant with vermicompost than with buffalo manure and compost, highlighting that the beneficial influence of vermicompost is not limited to its influence on plant yield. {I}n addition, this study showed for the first time that the combination of vermicompost and biochar may not only improve plant productivity but also reduce the negative impact of agriculture on water quality.},
  keywords = {{M}esocosms ; {W}ater quality ; {T}ropical soil ; {E}cological engineering ; {VIET} {NAM} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cience of the {T}otal {E}nvironment},
  volume = {514},
  numero = {},
  pages = {147--154},
  ISSN = {0048-9697},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.005},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064144},
}