Improving The Growth and Yield of Pak Choy (Brassica chinensis L.) Using Cacao Pod Husk Biochar

Abstract

This work aimed to assess the influence of cacao pod husk biochar treatments combined with the urea fertilizer addition on the growth and yield of pak choy (Brassica chinensis L.). The study used pot trials in a completely randomized design with two factors. The first was the addition of biochar from cacao pod husk, which consisted of 4 levels, namely 0, 62, 125, and 187 g/pot. The second factor was the dosage of urea addition with 4 levels, namely 0, 0.46, 0.93, and 1.40 g/pot. Pak choy was planted in triplicate polybags. Plant parameters included plant height, number of leaves, canopy cover area, fresh yield, water consumption, and water productivity. The results exhibited that adding biochar was significant in terms of parameters. Low dose biochar (62 g/pot) increased plant height, number of leaves, and water productivity, whereas high dose (125 to 187 g/pot) negatively affected pak choy growth and yield. The addition of urea is significant, except for pH and number of leaves. A fertilizer dose of up to 1.40 g/pot positively affected plant growth and yield of the pak choy. The most optimal interaction of the two factors occurred at a biochar dose of 62 g/pot and urea dose of 1.40 g/pot, which produced a maximum crop fresh yield of 111.83 g/plant. This research concluded that biochar from pyrolysis of cacao pod husk can be employed as soil amendment during pak choy cultivation but with controlled doses.