Effect of biochar and cattle manure fortified with potassium fertilizer on maize yield and soil properties

Biochar (BC) and cattle manure (CM) are carbon-nutrient-rich organic substances and have long been used to improve crop yield and soil fertility. Nevertheless, their combined effect with potassium (K) fertilizer remains unknown. Against the previous context, a 2-year (2021-2022) field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of K fertilization coupled with BC and CM on the growth and yield of maize and soil physio-chemical characteristics. The K application combined with BC and CM increased (p ≤ 0.05) the majority of the growth indices of maize crop compared with CK. Compared with CK, the combined application of K (60 kg K ha-1) with BC and CM resulted in an increased number of seeds cob-1 by up to 451 and 465, and up to 383 and 396, the 1000-seed weight up to 22 and 23 g, and up to 27 and 34 g, and the grain yield up to 1979 and 2900 and up to 3240 and 3341 kg ha-1, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. The integrated application of these inputs increased the chlorophyll of maize crops by 29 and 36% and by 30 and 44%, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. Such application also increased the photosynthetic activities of maize such as transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 21 and 23%, 143 and 110%, and by 64 and 66% in 2021 and by 19 and 30%, 163 and 118%, and by 63 and 72% in 2022. Similarly, the combined application of K, BC, and CM increased the K uptake of maize due to an increase in the soil extractable K. Equally, soil total N and organic matter improved under the combined application of K, BC, and CM. However, it did not affect the soil extractable P in 2021 but increased it in 2022. Conversely, these applications reduced (p < 0.05) the soil electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density. This suggests that K fertilization combined with BC and CM enhances the growth and yield of maize by improving the soil nutrients availability, increasing soil organic matter, and enhancing soil structure and moisture retention.

Inorganic fertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing crop growth and productivity. However, their excessive use can lead to adverse effects, including soil structure degradation and increased soil acidity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying cattle manure dosages on the growth and yield of maize (Zea Mays L) and the chemical properties of soil through a field trial conducted in Lahagu, Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. A completely randomized block design was used with four cattle manure treatments (0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha), each replicated three times. The application of cattle manure greatly enhanced the growth and yield qualities of maize due to the constant supply of nutrients. The control plot exhibited significantly lower means, while the maize receiving 6 t/ha showed the highest means across all the assessed growth and yield parameters. The findings from this study revealed improved soil chemical parameter including soil pH, organic carbon, calcium and magnesium following the application of cattle manure. It is recommended that resource-limited farmers apply 6 t/ha of cattle manure as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, as it notably improves the vegetative growth and yield of maize. This practice also reduces the environmental pollution from cattle manure disposal and increases the overall productivity. Since the trial was limited to a single season and location, further research across multiple sites and seasons is necessary for conclusive recommendations. The study provides valuable insights for smallholder farmers on the use of cattle manure as an organic soil amendment, promoting its adoption to enhance crop yield sustainably.

In order to make better use of the vast sugarcane leaf straw resources and reduce the overuse of chemical fertilizers in the subtropical red soil region of Guangxi, this study aimed to determine the effects of sugarcane leaf return (SLR) and fertilizer reduction (FR) on maize growth, yield component and yield, and soil properties. A pot experiment with three SLR amounts (full SLR (FS), 120 g/pot; half SLR (HS), 60 g/pot; and no SLR (NS) with three FR levels including full fertilizer (FF), 4.50 g N/pot, 3.00 g P2O5/pot, and 4.50 g K2O/pot; half fertilizer (HF), 2.25 g N/pot, 1.50 g P2O5/pot, and 2.25 g K2O/pot; and no fertilizer (NF)), without nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium added, was conducted to assess the effects of different SLR amounts and chemical FR levels on maize growth, yield, and soil properties. Compared with no sugarcane leaf return and the no-fertilizer treatment (CK), SLR and FR could increase maize plant height, stalk diameter, number of fully developed maize plant leaves, total leaf area and chlorophyll content, soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), soil organic matter (SOM), and electrical conductivity (EC). The maize yield component factors of FS and HS were higher in NF treatment than those in NS treatment. The relative increase rate of treatments retained FF/NF and HF/NF under FS or HS condition on 1000 kernel weight, ear diameter, plant air-dried weight, ear height, and yield than that under NS condition. FSHF had not only the largest plant air-dried weight but also the highest maize yield (3225.08 kg/hm2) among nine treatment combinations. The effects of SLR on maize growth and yield and soil properties were lower than those of FR. SLR and FR combined treatment did not affect maize growth but affected maize yield significantly. Soil properties improved more with SLR + FR treatment than with SLR or FR application alone. The plant height, stalk diameter, number of fully developed maize plant leaves, and total leaf area, as well as AN, AP, AK, SOM, and EC levels in soil, were enhanced by SLR and FR incorporation. The experimental results indicated that applying reasonable FR combined with SLR increased AN, AP, AK, SOM, and EC, which improved maize growth and yield and enhanced soil properties in red soil. Hence, FSHF might be a suitable combination of SLR and FR.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the fertilizing properties of rabbit urine combined with cattle manure on the growth and yield of maize. The study was conducted between January and June 2024, in a real-world setting located in the natural region of Buyogoma, within the central plateaus agro-ecological zone, at the Provincial Office of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock of Cankuzo in Burundi. The study was carried out using a randomized complete block experimental design. Five randomized treatments were used: a control without fertilizer (T0), cattle manure alone (T1), cattle manure combined with rabbit urine diluted 5 times (T2), cattle manure with rabbit urine diluted 2 times (T3), and cattle manure with undiluted rabbit urine (T4). The collected and analyzed data included maize plant growth parameters (number of leaves, plant height, and number of ears) and dry grain yield. The results showed that treatment T3, using urine diluted twice, recorded the highest number of leaves with 10.42±0.64, and significantly greater plant heights of 38.36±0.949 cm, 126.39±24.606 cm, and 191.250±8.290 cm at 4, 8, and 13 weeks after sowing, respectively. Similarly, the highest average number of ears, 1.67±0.476, was also produced under treatment T3, which included urine diluted twice in addition to cattle manure. The highest average dry grain yield was also observed under treatment T3, closely followed by treatment T4, with yields of 4.066±0.055 t/ha and 4.032±0.074 t/ha respectively, both significantly higher than the other treatments. In contrast, the control treatment (T0), which received no fertilizer, recorded the lowest yield at 0.128±0.003 t/ha. This study therefore highlights the positive effect of using rabbit urine as a liquid fertilizer combined with cattle manure, contributing to improved growth and yield of maize.

Impact of compost, vermicompost and biochar on soil fertility, maize yield and soil erosion in Northern Vietnam: A three year mesocosm experiment

Application of biochar can increase availability of plant nutrients and yield. A field experiment was conducted on anInceptisol with aim to determineresidual potassium fertilizer and biochar application on growth and yield of maize in the second season. A randomized block design was used with three replication. The treaments were residual application of potassium and biochar that consisted of biochar only (30 t/ha), and biochar plus several levels of potassium apllication (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha), included application of 200 kg/ha potassium without biochar. Basal fertilizersapplied in the first season were 90 kg N/ha and 100 kg P 2 0 5 , and in the second season was 90 kg N/ha. The results showed that residual biochar alone or combined with different levels of potassium application increased yield of maize. Residual biochar increased avalilabilty of N, P, K, Ca, and Na in the soil.

Maize is potentially important for human nutrition and contributes to strengthening food security, parallel to the cultivation of rice. Due to the nutritional value, dietary energy source and the emerging limitations of rice farming in the reduced water supply scenario in India during winter, the growing trend of adopting maize, especially in the rabi season under judicious nutrient management practices, is in high demand. However, fewer findings are available on enhancing the rabi maize productivity with balanced nutrient management in the coastal tracts of West Bengal. Based on the above facts, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different doses of phosphorous in combination with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and Phosphate-Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) for enhancing growth and yield of maize in rabi season of 2024-25 comprising ten treatments, conjoining biofertilizers either solely without any chemical phosphorous or with different levels of chemical phosphorous separately that can boost the productivity of rabi maize. The P2O5 application at 60 kg/ha, combined with VAM inoculation at 20 g/kg seed exhibited the highest grain yield (5.91 t/ha) and stover yield (8.31 t/ha), as well as all growth and yield parameters, indicating the most suitable synergistic impacts between the bioinoculant and inorganic phosphorus. The aforesaid treatment was closely followed by applying P2O5 @ 40 kg/ha + VAM inoculation @ 20 g/kg, with the grain yield of 5.53 t/ha, and it remained significantly inferior in enhancing the grain yield of maize. The combined impact of 60 kg phosphorus + 20 g VAM/kg seed reflected better plant growth that eventually increased the grain yield of rabi maize, which can be recommended for the coastal areas of West Bengal.

Biochar is a valuable soil amendment substance. However, no systematic study has investigated the effects of biochar on the microenvironment of saline-sodic soils and maize yield in cold areas of Heilongjiang Province. We investigated variations in soil physicochemical properties, soil bacterial and fungal community structure, maize root formation, plant dry matter accumulation, grain filling rate, and maize yield in saline soils treated with biochar (0, 20, 40, and 80 t/ha). Biochar improved saline soil properties and structure, slightly decreasing bulk density and pH and increasing the water-stable aggregate stabilization rate. Furthermore, the relative abundances of Sphingomonas, Lysobacter, Nitrospira, and Gemmatimonas and the fungal genus Guehomyces were increased, promoting the conversion of soil organic carbon and available nitrogen and phosphorus. Moreover, biochar reduced the relative abundance of some fungal pathogenic genera, including Fusarium, Gibberella, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Epicoccum. However, shifts in soil bacterial and fungal community structure were indirectly driven by biochar-induced changes in soil physicochemical properties, with organic carbon as the most critical. Biochar promoted maize growth, development, and yield (root length, surface area, volume, dry matter accumulation, grain filling rate, and final weight). Biochar application at 40 t/ha had the greatest effect on soil microenvironment improvement, with the highest maize yield.

Maize is a major crop grown and consumed in Uganda and it requires a high fertilizer input. However, the existing inorganic fertilizers in the market are often not affordable especially to small scale farmers, which results in decreased maize yields in the country. On the other hand, there is an abundance of unutilized animal manure, which, when treated, can be used to increase maize yields. This study evaluated the response of maize to products of different cattle manure treatment methods as well as inorganic fertilizer. The treatments such as cattle manure stored under shade (T), cattle manure stored in the open (M), cattle manure slurry digestate (S), vermicompost (V), and an inorganic fertilizer, DAP (D) were all applied in completely randomized block plots at an equal application rate of 50 kg N ha−1 with four replications per treatment. Control plots (C) where no fertilizer was applied were also considered. The experiment was done for two planting seasons in 2018. Number of leaves, plant height, cob, and grain yields were used to evaluate the performance of different fertilizer treatments. Economic assessment of all the six treatments was also carried out to determine the economic viability of applying these fertilizers on maize. Maize growth parameters and yields were all significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05) with an application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers when compared with the control. However, there was no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in the maize yields under the different fertilizer treatments. Vermicomposting was the most economically viable manure treatment method due to low operating costs and higher returns on investment that are supplemented with the production of chicken fodder (earthworm biomass) and, thus, can be recommended to farmers for production of a fertilizer that increases maize yields with assurance of economic returns.

Global warming and climate alterations have adversely affected agricultural production systems. The application of biochar can help mitigate climate change impacts and enhance the production and quality of agriculture. The field experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the effects of straw mulch (0 and 8 tons ha−1) and biochar (0, 4, 12, and 36 tons ha−1) on soil temperature, soil pH, bulk density, electric conductivity, cation exchange capacity, soil organic carbon, soil nutrient status (available P, K, NO3−, and NH4+) at various soil depth (10, 20, and 30 cm), and yield and yield‐related traits of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that addition of biochar regulated the soil temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and increased the soil organic carbon, soil nutrient status (available P, K, NO3−, and NH4+) compared to non‐biochar‐treated soils. In contrast, the higher amount of biochar (36 tons ha−1) application decreased the soil bulk density compared to control. However, the combined application of straw mulch and biochar improved the grain yield and yield contributing traits of maize. In conclusion, either straw mulch and biochar or combined straw mulch + biochar‐based soil management techniques regulate the temperature and physiochemical properties of soil. These improvements in soil properties increased the grain yield of rainfed maize and help to mitigate global warming.

In this study, we performed a greenhouse experiment to investigate the effect of cow manure biochar on maize yield, nutrient uptake and physico‐chemical properties of a dryland sandy soil. Biochar was derived from dry cow manure pyrolysed at 500 °C. Cow manure biochar was mixed with a sandy soil at the rate equivalent to 0, 10, 15 and 20 t biochar per hectare. Maize was used as a test crop. Results of the study indicated that cow manure biochar contains some important plant nutrients which significantly affected the maize crop growth. Maize yield and nutrient uptake were significantly improved with increasing the biochar mixing rate. Application of biochar at 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rates significantly increased maize grain yield by 150 and 98% as compared with the control, respectively. Maize net water use efficiency (WUE) increased by 6, 139 and 91% as compared with the control, with the 10, 15 and 20 t/ha mixing rate, respectively. Nutrient uptake by maize grain was significantly increased with higher biochar applications. Application of cow manure biochar improved the field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity of the sandy soil, as a result net WUE also increased. Results of the soil analysis after the harvesting indicated significant increase in the pH, total C, total N, Oslen‐P, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity. The results of this study indicated that application of cow manure biochar to sandy soil is not only beneficial for crop growth but it also significantly improved the physico‐chemical properties of the coarse soil.

Background The Southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria is characterized by inherently low soil fertility status and rapid nutrient depletion especially soil organic matter. However, this zone is characterized by abundant agricultural land and is a potential for crop production. Field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of integrated use of agricultural waste materials and compound mineral fertilizer on soil and plant nutrient status, growth, and yield of maize in ultisol in the Southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Results Application of organic waste alone and in combination with mineral fertilizer enhanced root and shoot biomass, leaf area development, and yield and components of maize. Treatment effects were significant on growth characteristics of maize (stem girth, leaf area, plant height and days to 50% tasselling, root and shoot biomass). Sole application of NPK fertilizer (400 kg/ha) was not significant over the combined use of poultry manure and NPK on girth, leaf area, and plant height. Mean values of stem girth, leaf area, and plant height ranged between 2.05 and 3.8 cm, 0.26 and 0.54 m2, and 84.7 and 209.4 cm, respectively. Root and shoot dry weights were highest under sole NPK application compared with plots where either sole wastes or wastes in combination with reduced NPK were application of NPK fertilizer (400 kg/ha) was not significant over combined use of poultry manure and NPK on stem applied. Integrated use of agricultural wastes and NPK also enhanced root and shoot dry weights compared with sole application of wastes as well as seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, and number of seeds per cob and grain yield. Among the agricultural wastes applied, poultry manure enhanced the growth and seed yield characteristics of maize. This treatment increased the seed weight per plant, number of seeds per cob, 100-seed weight and seed yield by 55.6%, 66.5%, and 55.4%, respectively over Chromolaena and neem seed cake. Chromolaena and neem seed cake produced similar grain weight per plant, 100-seed weight, number of seed per cob, and seed yield. Poultry manure significantly enhanced the growth and seed yield characteristics of maize over Chromolaena and neem seed cake. Conclusions Integrated use of organic wastes and mineral NPK fertilizer showed promising potential for improving soil fertility, growth, and yield of maize in the Southern Guinea savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria. It is recommended that poultry manure at 7 t/ha plus NPK fertilizer at 200 kg/ha be adopted for maize cultivation in the study area.

An abandoned land after tin-mining activities are degraded lands with undulating and destructed land scape and low soil fertility status. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic amendments on the soil properties, growth, and grain yield of corn (Zea mays L.) on abandoned tin-mining areas in Bangka Island, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. The field experiment was conducted at the abandoned tin-mining areas in Cambai Village, Bangka Belitung Archipelago. Five treatments of organic amendments were applied and replicated three times and laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design. All treatments were applied with the recommended rate fertilizer of 135 kg N ha-1, 72 kg P2O5 ha-1, and 120 kg K2O ha-1. The treatments were T1= 20 Mg chicken manure ha-1;T2= 20 Mg cattle manure ha-1; T3= 20 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; T4 : 10 Mg of chicken manure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1; and T5= 10 Mg cattlemanure ha-1 + 10 Mg rice straw compost ha-1. Application of organic amendments (chicken manure, cattle manure, and rice straw compost) on abandoned tin-mining land improved soil fertility due to the increasing of soil pH and nutrient availability, especially available-P and -K, and exchangeable bases. Application of chicken manure and cattle manure were significantly better than rice straw compost to improving soil fertility, nutrient uptake, growth and yield of maize. Application of cattle manure gave the highest yield of maize, namely 6.24 Mg ha-1.

Maize is a major crop for food security, but its cultivation is threatened by climate change. Climate may affect the response of maize to fertilizer. This study examined the impact of weather parameters in combination with fertilizer types on maize growth and yield parameters in Benin. The experiment involved two sets of climatic scenarios. Scenario 1 (weather 1) had a moderate range of minimum and maximum temperatures and maximum humidity suitable for maize cultivation in Benin. Scenario 2 (Weather 2) featured a broader range of parameter values below and above those of Weather 1. Five types of fertilizers were tested: Organic (Cow dung), Chemical (NPK), Intermediate 1 (mixture of high NPK and low Cow dung), Intermediate 2 (mixture of middle NPK and middle cow dung), and Intermediate 3 (mixture of high cow dung and low NPK). These factors were combined in a split-plot design and data were collected on maize germination, growth, and yield variables. Models such as DNNsurv, Cox, linear mixed effect, and decision trees were used for data analysis. Results revealed that maize seeds had a higher probability of germination between 2 to 5 days after sowing, with over 80% of the seeds germinating the fifth day. Intermediate 1 and organic fertilizers were particularly effective in promoting maize growth, resulting in larger diameters and heights. Organic, chemical, and intermediate 1 fertilizers led to higher yields under weather scenario 2, while intermediate 3 and organic led to higher yields under weather 1, suggesting that organic fertilizers could be more sustainable and cost-effective than mineral fertilizers. Additionally, Weather 2 was associated with higher maize yields suggesting that, a relatively broader range of climate parameters would positively affect maize yield. These findings can assist farmers and policymakers in making well-informed decisions regarding the most suitable fertilizers to use under various weather conditions, maximizing their yield and profits.

Biochar is increasingly gaining popularity due to its extensive recommendation as a potential solution for addressing the concerns of food security and climate change in agroecosystems, with biochar application for increased carbon sequestration, enhanced soil fertility, improved soil health, and increased crop yield and quality. There have been multiple studies on crop yield utilizing various biochar types and application amounts; however, none have focused on the influence of diverse biochar types at various pyrolysis temperatures with different application amounts and the integration of fertilizer regimes in maize crops. Therefore, a two-year factorial field experiment was designed in a temperate Himalayan region of India (THRI) to evaluate the residual effect of different biochar on maize yield under different pyrolysis temperatures, various application rates and fertilizer regimes. The study included three factors viz., amendment type (factor 1), rate of application (factor 2) and fertilizer regime (factor 3). Amendment type included 7 treatments: No biochar- control (A1), apple biochar @ 400°C pyrolysis temperature (A2), apple biochar @ 600°C pyrolysis temperature (A3), apple residue biomass (A4), dal weed biochar @ 400°C pyrolysis temperature (A5), dal weed biochar @ 600°C pyrolysis temperatures (A6), and dal weed residue biomass (A7). The rate of application included 3 levels: Low (L- 1 t ha-1), medium (M- 2 t ha-1), and high (H- 3 t ha-1). At the same time, the fertilizer regimes included 2 treatments: No fertilizer (N) and recommended dose of fertilizer (F). The results revealed that among the various amendment type, rate of application and fertilizer regimes, the A3 amendment, H rate of application and F fertilizer regime gave the best maize growth and productivity outcome. Results revealed that among the different pyrolyzed residues used, the A3 amendment had the highest plant height (293.87 cm), most kernels cob-1 (535.75), highest soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value (58.10), greatest cob length (27.36 cm), maximum cob girth (18.18 cm), highest grain cob yield (1.40 Mg ha-1), highest grain yield (4.78 Mg ha-1), higher test weight (305.42 gm), and highest stover yield (2.50 Mg ha-1). The maximum dry weight in maize and the number of cobs plant-1 were recorded with amendments A4 (14.11 Mg ha-1) and A6 (1.77), respectively. The comparatively 2nd year of biochar application than the 1st year, the H level of the rate of application than the L rate and the application and integration of the recommended dose of fertilizer in maize results in significantly higher values of growth and productivity in maize. Overall, these findings suggest that the apple biochar @ 600°C pyrolysis temperature (A3) at a high application rate with the addition of the recommended dose of fertilizer is the optimal biochar for enhancing the growth and productivity of maize in the THRI.