Appraising the Effect of Biocharin Groundnuts(Arachis hypogaea L) Growth Parameters and Yield Under Screen House Conditions

Abstract

Biochar soil amendment is known to suppress the effect of pathogenic fungi and favour plant resistance against soil‐borne pathogen effects. Thisstudy appraises the impact of biochar on groundnutyield planted in the slightly acidic sandy loam soil.Thestudy was done at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) screen house, where groundnuts wereplanted in the 2L pots filled with soil mixed with biochar at different rates (2.5%, 5% and 7.5%)in April 2022. Groundnut’sgrowth parameters weremanaged by measuring shoot lengthand root length, counting the number of leaves and taking leaf area once every week from the second week after planting to harvesting,where its yield was also measured. Analysis of variance showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in groundnut growth parameters and yield when 5% Biochar was used. There was a strong positive correlation between biochar and some groundnut growth parameters. No significant (P < 0.05) differencewas observed between Biochar and groundnut growth parameters and yield when 2.5% biochar was used. A slightly weak negative correlation was observed when a 7.5% Biocharrate was used. Biochar-amended soils indicated a dramatic increase in soil pH, CEC, Mn, P, K, Ca, B, Zn and Si. The current study indicates that the utilization of 5% maize cob biochar, pyrolyzed at 500°C, in acidic sandy loam soil,can lead to maximum enhancement in soil physical and chemical properties, as well as groundnut growth and yield parameters.