Abstract
To investigate the effect of the application of rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) on soil properties and rice production, pot experiment comprising of five treatments was conducted. Soil was mixed at the rate of 0 (control), 2% and 4% (w/w) with RH and RHC, respectively with randomized complete block design (RCBD). RHC incorporation had a potential to reduce the acidity of the soil, whereas, RH incorporation had almost no effect on the pH of the soil. RH and RHC amendment both increased the saturated hydraulic conductivity, saturated water content, plant available water and field capacity but decreased the bulk density of soil. Crop growth components at harvest revealed that the highest plant height was recorded in RH4%. However, for the panicle length, panicle weight and number of tillers, the highest value was found in RHC2%, 14.2 cm, 4.0 g and 28.8 cm, respectively. Furthermore, number of panicle, 1000-grains weight and grain yield were also found highest in RHC2%, 22.4 g and 4.41 t/ha, respectively. However, for the number of grain per panicle and percentage of filled grain, the highest value was found in RH4%, 79.0 and 88.5, respectively. The grain yield increased by 38%, 28%, 18% and 22% and the biological yield increased by 27%, 18%, 14%, and 16% for RHC2%, RHC4%, RH2%, and RH4%, respectively, compared to that of the control; however, the significant difference was found only for RHC2% for both. The harvest index increased under all application rates of RH and RHC compared to that of control.
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of popular crop and staple food for more than half of the world’s population
The grain yield increased by 38%, 28%, 18% and 22% and the biological yield increased by 27%, 18%, 14%, and 16% for RHC2%, RHC4%, RH2%, and RH4%, respectively, compared to that of the control; the significant difference was found only for RHC2% for both
Total Nitrogen (TN) for rice husk (RH) and rice husk charcoal (RHC) was higher to that of soil (1.34 g/kg), whereas, the Total Phosphorus (TP) value was found higher than the soil only in RHC (Table 1)
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of popular crop and staple food for more than half of the world’s population. The soil organic matter in soil can be increased by adding plant residues such as rice husk (RH), composts, and by adding biochar to the soil. About 770 million tons of rice husks are produced annually in Asia. In Japan only, more than 1.8 million tons per year of rice husks are produced [5]. Application of RH or RHC to crop field improves the physical or chemical properties of soil and resolve the waste disposal problem. RHC is receiving more interest because of its potential for carbon sequestration, and its ability for improving soil fertility and increasing crop production [6]. Application of biochar to soil improves soil fertility [7], and increases water and nutrient retention [8]
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