Abstract
Abstract Biochar produced from pyrolysis of organic materials has been found to improve plant growth by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil as well as enhancing the sequestration of carbon dioxide that would release into the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic residues. However, there is scanty information on the methods used to apply biochar in order to optimize the benefits of biochar use for agricultural production. In view of this, a field study was carried out at the experimental field of CSIR – Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, to assess the effect of method of biochar application on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in a moderately acidic sandy Ferric Acrisol. The experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments imposed were as follows: control, broadcasting, spot and ring methods of application. The parameters assessed included growth and yield data as well as nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in shoots and grains. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition. The results showed that the spot and ring methods of application significantly enhanced height, girth, nodule number and dry weight, shoot biomass and grain yield as well as nitrogen and phosphorus contents in shoots and grains when compared with the broadcasting method and control. This study therefore recommends the spot and ring methods of biochar application for adoption in cowpea production for enhanced growth, yield and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake.
Highlights
Smallholder farmers are faced with the problem of declining soil productivity due to low soil fertility, availability of limited resources to farmers and nutrient mining (McCann 2005)
This study has shown that the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea are influenced by the method of biochar application
The increased growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea are a result of the improvement of the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil such as improved pH; improved water holding capacity, which raises the available water to the plant, and improved nutritional contents of biochar in the moderately acidic soil, which inter-relate to ensure that the necessary conditions are met for the growth of cowpea
Summary
Walp) is an important crop that is one of the most extensively produced pulse crops in Sub-Saharan Africa (Walker et al 2016) It constitutes a major component of farming systems in a variety of agro-ecological zones because of its ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. In spite of the considerable economic and health importance of cowpea, optimum yields have not been realized in Ghana due to constraints such as inadequate rainfall (due to frequent and erratic droughts), use of poor yielding varieties, pest, diseases and parasitic weeds (Onduru et al 2008; Afutu et al 2017) Coupled with these challenges, smallholder farmers are faced with the problem of declining soil productivity due to low soil fertility, availability of limited resources to farmers and nutrient mining (McCann 2005). The current study was undertaken to assess the effect of biochar application method on growth, yield and nutrient uptake in cowpea in a moderately acidic sandy Ferric Acrisol
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
