Effects of biochar residue and cow manure residue on entisol chemical properties, growth, and production of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in second planting season

Abstract

Agricultural improvement (AI) in dryland became a priority for agricultural development in Aceh Province, Indonesia. AI is in line with government programs to increase the productivity of several types of second food crops such as peanuts. Up to now, the productivity of food crops, especially peanut on dryland in Aceh Province, based on farmers’ practice, was still very low, i.e 0.95 tons ha-1. Biochar is one of the options for soil management and has the potential to improve soil fertility. The objectives of this research were to study the effect of rice husk biochar residue, cocopeat biochar residue, and cow manure residue on Entisol chemical properties, peanut growth, and production. Rice husk biochar, cocopeat biochar, and cow manure were applied on the first season of peanut growth. The research was conducted using factorial 6 × 3 with three replications, and the treatment units were allocated based on Randomized Block Design. The first factor was rice husk biochar residue and cocopeat biochar residue with 3 doses (0; 2.5; 5 t ha-1) and cow manure residue with 3 doses (0; 2.5; 5 t ha-1) as the second factor. The soil chemical properties and root samples were analyzed on 45 days after planting and peanut production after harvest. The observed variables of crops were (1) plant height, (2) branches number (3) plant dry weight; (4) root dry weight; (5) root nodules number, (6) pods weight, (7) pods total, (8) filled pods, (9) seed weight, and (10) weight of 100 seeds. The observed variables of soil chemical properties were (1) pH, (2) C-organic; (3) Total N; (4) P available; and (5) K exchangeable. The results showed that rice husk biochar residue and cocopeat biochar residue does not affect soil chemical properties significantly, such as plant height 15 and 30 DAP, peanut pods, and seed weight per plant. Nevertheless, both had a positive effect on plant height 45 DAP, branches number 15, 30, 40 DAP, root dry weight, plant dry weight, root nodules number, and 100 seeds weight. The best residual dosage of rice husk biochar and cocopeat biochar was 2.5 t ha-1. Cow manure residue did not give a significant effect on soil chemical properties, plant height 15, 30 and 45 DAP, branches number 30, 45 DAP, root dry weight, plant dry weight, root nodules number, peanut pods, seed weight per plant, and 100 seeds weight, but had a positive effect on the number of branches 15 DAP. The best dosage of cow manure residue was 2.5 t ha-1