Abstract
The dependency on rainfed agriculture and weak adaptability of the agricultural sector to climate change threaten food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Biochar has widely been touted as a relatively easy means of increasing the soil water storage capacity of soils and thereby improving or maintaining crop yields. In this study we simulated the effect of biochar amendment on sorghum aboveground biomass and grain yield at a site in South Sudan. We used the model AquaCrop parameterized using site, soil, and cropping management data from a field experiment carried out at the site in 2011 and 2012, which were both wet years. Changes in soil hydraulic properties due to biochar were based on a published meta-analysis study. In order to investigate whether the response to biochar differed in dry years, simulations were also carried out for 1990, which was the driest year during the period 1979–2014. Measured and modelled biomass and yields with and without biochar for 2011 and 2012 were compared. Simulated and measured yields depended on growing season rainfall and distribution. The simulations showed that biochar amendment had an effect on rooting zone soil water content and sorghum biomass and grain yield in 1990, but not in 2011 and 2012. In view of expected climate change, the results have important implications for sorghum production and the potential use of biochar in SSA. Given the limited response of grain yield to biochar shown in our simulations, careful selection of sorghum variety and cultivar and consideration of planting date may be a more effective means of improving yields than applying biochar.
Highlights
Water stress and loss of soil fertility are the most liming factors affecting agricultural production and livelihoods in drylands of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1]
In 2011 and 2012, an agroforestry field experiment looking into the effects of Acacia seyal tree density and biochar on sorghum production and grain yield was carried out [17]
In our research we found a direct relationship between simulated biomass and grain yield and annual rainfall for the three years included in our study
Summary
Water stress and loss of soil fertility are the most liming factors affecting agricultural production and livelihoods in drylands of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1]. The impact is great for rainfed agricultural systems such as in SSA, where rainfall anomalies causes crop failure and food insecurity [2]. Climate change projections for SSA indicate increases in temperature and a reduction, but increased variability, in rainfall, which will have important negative implications for agriculture and livelihoods [3,4]. Moench) is an important staple food, feed, and biofuel crop, and a main source of protein for millions of people in Asia and Africa [5].
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