Abstract
In the Himalayan region, the low green fodder supply to livestock necessitates agronomic interventions, including the use of fortified pine needle biochar, a viable option for slow-release nutrients, to enhance fodder oat production, improve soil health, and safely manage the abundant pine needles that pose a fire risk. In a greenhouse study, the effect of different levels of pine needle biochar (0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.11 and 0.22 % of soil weight) fortified with 0, 75 and 100 % of the recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF, 80 kg N: 60 kg P2O5: 40 kg K2O ha−1) was examined on the green fodder yield, nutrient concentration and uptake of oat, and general soil properties and extractable nutrients. Application of 0.02 % biochar fortified with 75 % RDF gave a fodder yield (56.9 g pot−1) which was 46.6 percent higher than the control (38.8 g pot−1) but statistically similar to the yield with 100 % RDF alone (54.9 g pot−1). The highest fodder yield (72.0 g pot−1) was recorded with 0.22 % biochar fortified with 100 % RDF. Higher doses of biochar without fortification decreased the N concentration but increased the K concentration and brought no significant change in P concentration in the fodder oat. Biochar fortified with 75 and 100 % RDF enhanced the uptake of N, P, and K by fodder oat. The moderate levels of biochar (0.02 and 0.04 %) fortified with 75 % RDF and all levels of biochar fortified with 100 % RDF decreased soil pH while higher levels of biochar fortified with 100 % RDF increased soil EC and organic C. The treatments receiving the highest level of biochar addition (0.22 %) with 0 % RDF, 0.11 and 0.22 % biochar fortified with 75 % RDF and all levels of biochar fortified with 100 % RDF significantly increased soil extractable N, P and K after crop harvest except for K under 0.22 % biochar fortified with 100 % RDF. Pine needle biochar fortified with RDF helped to achieve higher oat fodder production and maintain soil fertility than solo application of biochar or chemical fertilisers.
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