Biochar Integration with Legume Crops in Summer Gape Synergizes Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Enhance Maize Yield

Fazal Jalal,Aziz Khan,Muhammad Ali,Syed Hussain,Muhammad Arif,Misbah Naz,Muhammad Ali Khan,Fan Wei,Fazal Said,Kashif Akhtar,Sajjad Zaheer,Muhammad Imtiaz

doi:10.3390/agronomy10010058

Abstract

Besides carbon (C) sequestration, biochar (BC) is recently believed to deliver multiple eco-friendly benefits to the soil for enhancing crop productivity. Use of mineral fertilizers coupled with BC been suggested a promising sustainable strategy for increasing crops yield. However, imperative study is needed to investigate (1) BC integration with multiple legumes crop adjusted in summer gape for pooling more organic carbon and nitrogen, and (2) subsequently looking into its synergism with mineral N in the following crop. Therefore, two years’ field experiments were conducted on maize under cereal based cropping pattern with the adjustment of legumes (i.e., mungbean, cowpea, and Sesbania) with a fallow in summer. In legumes, treatments consist of (0 and 50 t ha−1) BC application. However, N rates of 0, 90, 120, 150 kg ha−1 were added to the subsequent maize crop. Preceding legumes plots with the use of 50 t ha−1 biochar enhanced maize grain yield, above ground biomass, stover N, grain N, soil C, and N content after maize harvest and N use efficiency as compared to non-legumes with BC and legumes without BC plots. N application increased grain yield, above-ground biomass, stover N, grain N, and soil N but reduced N use efficiency with higher rates. Conclusively, the integration of biochar and legumes is a promising option for increasing the entire farm production of cereal-based cropping systems. This increment in yield was associated with supplying a viable input of N and C to soil and increased yields from this supplementary ‘summer gap’ crop.

Highlights

To overcome the food demand of the world’s growing population, the use of nitrogen (N)fertilizer cannot be ignored [1]
N application improved soil N and maximum soil N was recorded in plots fertilized with kg N ha−1
The current study showed that biochar significantly improved grain yield but had no effect on above ground biomass

Summary

Introduction

To overcome the food demand of the world’s growing population, the use of nitrogen (N)fertilizer cannot be ignored [1]. The use of biochar in a low fertile soil is a useful technique to improve soil carbon, soil health [3], and its crop productivity [4]. Biochar solicitation has attained an increasingly interest to reclaim nutrients poor soils [5]. Use of biochar can improve plants growth by enhancing nutrients availability, enhance microbial activity, water nutrient holding capacity, and increased bulk density [5,6,7]. Biochar is highly recalcitrant to microbial decomposition and ensures a long term benefit for soil fertility [8]. Integration of biochar with synthetic fertilizers can improve yield of the crops in the highly weathered or degraded soils [8,9,10]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion