Agronomic Performance of Barley as Affected by Biochar and Lime Application on Acid Soil of Hula Hagereselam Sidama, Ethiopia

Abstract

Biochar has been shown to improve soil chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), and exchangeable acidity, and currently, researchers are looking at its liming potential. In view of this, a field experiment was conducted to assess the main and interaction effects of biochar and lime on yield, and yield components of barley as well as selected soil chemical properties, and to determine optimum combination of soil amendment. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used to lay out a factorial combination of three levels of lime (0, 24.3, and 47.9 t ha^-1) and four levels of biochar (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha^-1) with twelve treatments combinations. Over the unfertilized plot, the pooled mean analysis revealed that soil amendments had a substantial impact on yield and yield components as well as soil chemical properties. The combined application of 5 t ha^-1 biochar and 24.3 t ha^-1 lime t ha^-1 resulted in the maximum grain yield of barley. The use of 24.3 t ha^-1 lime and 5 t ha^-1 biochar could significantly boost barley grain yields. Therefore, for barley production in the study area and acid soil amelioration, combined use of lime and biochar at rates of 24.3 t ha^-1 and 5 t ha^-1 could be proposed.