Abstract
The current pot trial was conducted to estimate the impacts of different types of biochar on the growth and nutrients availability of maize (Zea mays) and their effects on the properties of soil. Treatments including four different feedstock based biochar i.e wheat straw, rice husk, corn cob and wood bark were applied to the soil in 10 kg pots @ 1.5% w/w. The experiment was carried out using complete randomized design (CRD). The crop was harvested after the plants have completed their vegetative growth. Physiological parameters of the crop (plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content) were measured before harvesting while shoot mass (fresh and dry) and root mass (fresh and dry) were calculated after harvesting of the crop. The data showed a significant difference when compared with the control. Plant height was significantly increased from 140cm (control) to 159.9cm in T4 (wood bark biochar). Experimental soil was analyzed in the laboratory for NPK, water aggregate stability, organic matter and active carbon. Wet aggregate stability value of the soil was improved from 17.82% to 19.5%. Similarly soil active carbon was significantly improved from 259.33 ppm to 321.25 ppm. The data showed more significant results of wood bark biochar. Nutrient availability in the soil and plant nutrients uptake N (21.6%), P (31.25%) and K (45%) was increased as a results of biochar incorporation in the soil.
Highlights
Biochar is a rich carbon composite formed by the burning of biomass in the absence or very limited supply of oxygen
Soil aggregate stability and soil organic matter can be maintained by the mixing of biochar (Trompowsky et al, 2005).Many researches showed the use of biochar as an amendment for healthier crop production and to improve chemical properties of tropical soils which are highly weathered ( Liang et al, 2006)
The data revealed that the highest mean value for plant height was obtained in the treatment receiving wood bark biochar (T4) (159.5 cm) while the lowest was obtained in control (T1) which contained no biochar (140 cm)
Summary
Biochar is a rich carbon composite formed by the burning of biomass in the absence or very limited supply of oxygen. Soil aggregate constancy and soil organic matter can be preserved by the application of biochar many researches showed the use of biochar as an adjustment for better crop production and to improve chemical properties of tropical soils which are highly battered. Soil aggregate stability and soil organic matter can be maintained by the mixing of biochar (Trompowsky et al, 2005).Many researches showed the use of biochar as an amendment for healthier crop production and to improve chemical properties of tropical soils which are highly weathered ( Liang et al, 2006). The availability of major plant nutrients is increased by the application of biochar to soil (Lehmann et al, 2014) All these properties make the biochar a very good adsorbent for a diversity of mineral and organic pollutants in water and soil environment, Sorption mechanisms include electrostatic attractions between ionic organic compounds and biochar charged surfaces. Present study was conducted to estimate the impacts of different types of biochar on the growth and nutrients availability of maize and their effects on the properties of soil
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