Effects of corncob carbon on peanut growth and soil properties

Abstract

In this paper, corncob biochar was prepared by pyrolysis, and the basic physicochemical properties of the carbon were analysed by characterisation, and potting tests were used to study the effects of different carbon application rates on peanut growth indexes and soil conventional physicochemical properties. The results showed that the corncob carbon at 500°C for 30 min was suitable for soil improvement; the carbon had a pH of 9.98 and could regulate soil pH; it had a rich pore structure with a specific surface area of 11.6 m2·g-1, which could improve soil pore density; and its N,P,K contents were 5.8,8.3,49.5 g·kg-1, respectively, which could provide exogenous nutrients to the soil. The higher the amount of carbon applied, the better the effect on soil physicochemical properties and yield promotion. When the amount of carbon applied was 7%, the soil capacity was reduced by 8.8%, the plant height was reduced by 5.5%, the stem thickness was increased by 18.4%; soil pH increased by 3%, CEC by 20.2 %, and organic matter by 52.03%, resulting in a 40.8% increase in peanut yield.. This corncob carbon has good physicochemical properties and is an ideal soil conditioner.