Abstract
Soil fertility depletion and the associated soil acidity has become a serious problem to crop production in most highlands of Ethiopia Fortunately, such problems can be reclaimed by the application of biochar as soil amendments which can be sequestered in the soil for several years.A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar on soil properties, growth response and nutrient uptake of faba bean. The design employed was a randomized complete block with four replications. The parameters analyzed includes: Trace Metals using DTPA extraction, macronutrient using 1 N ammonium acetate (pH =7) extraction. Dry ashing method was used to determine nutrient uptake of plant samples. The studied soil and plant data were collected and subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared at the 0.05 probability level using list significant difference test. The results revealed that application of biochar significantly improved growth of faba bean and soil nutrient content. The highest values for soil chemical parameters such as available phosphorus and exchangeable cations were obtained from the application of 20 t/ha CHB. Similarly, the highest growth performance of faba bean including plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll content, nodulation number, root and shoot biomass, uptake of N, P and K were recorded from biochar-amended soil. From this study, it can be suggested that the application of biochar could be an alternative promising amendment to lime for acid soil management and sustainable crop production. But, further investigations need to be continued under field conditions across different soil and crop types. Keywords: Amelioration, coffee husk biochar, faba bean, Nitisols DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-10-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2021
Highlights
Agricultural soils have major constraints related to soil fertility and plant nutrient managements likewise deficiencies of essential trace elements and macro-nutrients and these deficiencies can affect the nutritional quality of edible crops with direct consequences for human health [1]
Initially the study soil was showed that deficient in plant- available nutrients and application of the biochar and lime significantly positive effect on soil nutrients in addition to nutrient supply, by increasing soil pH and reduced exchangeable acidity, in a way that enhanced the availability of plant nutrients
Applications of 20 t h-1 CHB were more efficient in improving soil nutrient availability, and nutrient uptake of faba bean than other treatment
Summary
Agricultural soils have major constraints related to soil fertility and plant nutrient managements likewise deficiencies of essential trace elements and macro-nutrients and these deficiencies can affect the nutritional quality of edible crops with direct consequences for human health [1]. Soil degradation processes caused by soil erosion, organic matter, and plant nutrient depletion, nutrient imbalances, application of inorganic fertilizer, Soil acidity and P fixation in the highlands are among the major challenges affecting agricultural productivity and food security [2,3,4]. Such problems can be tackled by the application of biochar as soil amendments that can be sequestered for hundreds of years in the soil [5]. Increment of soil nutrient and Decrease nutrient leaching [2,3],water retention capacity [9] and enhanced plant-available water content [10], and by creating a habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms [11]
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