Growth of soybean (Glycine max L.) on various types of biochar

Abstract

Climate change especially in agriculture, have a serious impact on soil fertility. Low soil fertility can affect the quality and quantity of agricultural produce. Biochar is one of the soil-fixing materials that can be used to increase soil fertility i.e. physical, chemical and biological fertility especially in vertisol soil. The purpose of this research was to find out the influence of various types of biochar and the best dose of biochar on the growth of soybean plants. The research was conducted at Screen House, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta on March to June 2021. The research was designed in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors. The first factor is the type of biochar consisting of three levels, which consist of coconut shell biochar, rice husk biochar, and biochar corn cob. The second factor is the biochar dose consisting of five levels, which consist of 0 ton.ha−1, 5 tons.ha−1, 10 tons.ha−1, 15 tons.ha−1, and 20 tons.ha−1. Each experiment was repeated three times. The results showed no interaction between the type and dose of biochar in all variables. Treatment of the type of biochar rice husk with a dose of 20 tons.ha-1 can increase the plant height by 14.6%. Treatment of the type of rice husk biochar with a dose of 15 tons.ha-1 can increase the number of leaves by 11.345%, the number of branches by 36.63%, wet weight by 17.74%, dry weight by 15.9%. Biochar treatment of coconut shell with a dose of 5 tons.ha-1 can increase the leaf area by 63.45%.