Biochar Effect on Maize Yield in Selected Farmers Fields in the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana (original) (raw)
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Biochar on Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity
The Agriculturists
An experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field in Shibalaya upazilla of Manikganj district during rabi season of 2017to study the effectiveness of biochar on soil fertility and yields of brinjal and cauliflower. There were five treatments viz. control, recommended inorganic fertilizer (RF), biochar 1 t/ha + RF, biochar 3 t/ha + RF and biochar 5 t/ha + RF laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data revealed that biochar at the rate of 5 t/ha along with RF provided maximum yields of brinjal (67 t/ha) and cauliflower (42 t/ha). The pH, nutrients and moisture contents of the study soils increased and bulk density decreased with the higher rates of biochar application. Significant changes were observed in the total organic carbon in soils which increased by 25 to 41% from the initial levels. Recovery, agronomic and physiological efficiencies of N, P, K and S were found the highest with the application of biochar 5 t/ha. In terms of soil fertility and cr...
Open Journal of Soil Science
Ghana's soil is continuously declining in fertility due to continuous cultivation and rapid mineralization of its soil organic matter. Previous studies have touted the potential of biochar to help improve soil properties and increase the yield of crops. This study investigated the effects of the application of biochar on physicochemical properties of soil and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana. The study indicated that application of biochar significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) from 3.88% (for control) to 5.72% (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha and 0 ton/ha of NPK). It also increased soil pH from 6.55 in (for control) to 7.30 (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha) and 0 ton/ha of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which can help ameliorate the soil acidity problem of Ghanaian soils. This field study, demonstrated that addition of biochar from sawdust increased the yield (between the control (0 ton/ha of biochar, 0% of recommended dose of NPK) and 20 ton/ha, 0% recommended dose of NPK) of maize and cabbage by 6.66% and 7.57% respectively. This study concluded that application of biochar offers a great potential to improve soil quality and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana.
Effect of Biochar on Soil Health and Crop Productivity: A Review
Agricultural Reviews, 2022
Biochar has been recently proposed as a management strategy to improve crop productivity and global warming mitigation. Biochar may be added to soils with the goal to improve the soil properties and relocate an amount of conventional fossil fuel based fertilizers and sequester carbon. Biochar production and incorporation in soil must play a role in climate change mitigation. The need for further clarity on optimizing biochar application to various crop yields is necessary if it is to gain widespread acceptance as a soil amendment. There is urgent need to intensify agricultural production to secure food supply for the ever increasing population especially in developing country like India of the tropics. Biochar proponents have placed on biochar stability in soil and it also includes increased soil fertility and water holding capacity, increased crop production and remediation of contaminated soils. The biochar have potential to feasibly and sustainably sequester/offset over 1 Pg of C...
FORMULATION OF BIOCHAR BASED FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVING MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY AND SOIL FERTILITY
Incorporation of biochar to agriculture field has the potential to be a primary factor in maintaining soil fertility and productivity particularly in nitrogen and organic matter limiting environments. Clear experimental evidences to support this view, however, are still lacking. Keeping in view the significance of biochar and limited information on its role in crop production, the current experiments were designed to evaluate the potential use of biochar in crop production for 2 years. The experiment consisted of three factors namely: (1) Biochar (0, 25 and 50 ton ha-1), (2) FYM (5 and 10 ton ha-1) and (3) nitrogen (75 and 150 kg ha-1). A control treatment (all at nil level) was included in the experiment for comparison. All the treatments were replicated three time in RCB design at New Developmental Farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan. As per expectation inorganic N and FYM application increased maize yield in comparison to control. Furthermore, BC treatments increased maize grain ear-1 and grain yield by 21 and 11% over no BC treatments (where FYM and N was applied but no biochar) while caused 29 and 35% in comparison to control respectively. Similarly, maize biological yield was increased by 14 and 39% over no BC and control treatments respectively. Beside crop yield, soil properties like carbon content, N status, Phosphorus, crop N uptake and crop P uptake was significantly increased by BC treatment over no BC treatment. Overall, application of BC showed convincing results as compared to sole application of N and FYM, however, problems associated with BC production in Pakistan are needed to be addressed in future research.
The benefits of biochar on soil nutrient retention and maize productivity
2020
Poor soil fertility is one of the major factors contributing to low production and productivity among smallholder farmers mainly due to soil acidity, low nutrient reserves, low nutrient retention and low soil organic matter. The use of biochar technology in crop production has the potential to alleviate these problems. The study aimed at determining the benefits of biochar on soil nutrient retention and maize productivity. The biochar was produce from maize combs by Pyrolysis using the Top Lit updraft kiln. For the effects of biochar on nutrient retention in the soil profile, 50cm length, 8.3cm diameter soil columns, were used to collect soils from Kabwe, Mufulira, Choma and Mungu research stations. The treatments comprised: biochar+fertilizer, fertilizer alone, and control. Biochar and fertilizer application rates were: 2% wt/wt biochar/soil (@40 t/ha) to the top 10cm and 9g (200kg/ha) “D” compound to the top 5 cm, replicated four times. Rainwater was used to leach the soil. The EC...
Influence of biochar on soil available nutrient contents in cropping sequence (Cotton-maize-mowpea)
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
Application of biochar had significantly increased the available N, P and K contents in the post harvest soil of cotton field. However, the effect was increased with corresponding increase in the rate of application of biochar. Significantly highest values were recorded in biochar @ 10 t ha-1 application. Similar trend of direct effect was also registered in the post harvest soil of maize under both the cumulative (continuous application) and residual (one time application) studies. Proving the biochar’s ability in improving the soil physical, physico-chemical and chemical properties even in the succeeding maize crop soil. The application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 had increased the available N by 5.21 per cent, available P by 8.97 per cent and available K by 8.18 per cent over control. Thus, proving the biochar’s ability to sustain the soil fertility status over long run.
Biochar and their impacts on soil properties and crop productivity: a review
2018
Biochar may be added to soils with the goal to improve the soil properties and relocate an amount of conventional fossil fuel based fertilizers, and sequester carbon. Biochar stability is critical to quantifying the impact of biochar amendments on net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere, it is not sufficient. Biochar production and incorporation in soil must play a role in climate change mitigation. The need for further clarity on optimizing biochar application to various crop yields is necessary if it is to gain widespread acceptance as a soil amendment. There is urgent need to intensify agricultural production to secure food supply for the increasing population especially in developing country like India of the tropics. But, the organic matter is mineralized at a faster rate due to high temperature (32-44 C) throughout the year except in winter season. Biochar proponents have placed on biochar stability in soil and it also includes increased soil fertility and water h...
Role of Biochar: In agriculture sector its implication and perspective
Modern agriculture is leading mining of nutrients and reduction in soil organic matter levels through repetitive harvesting of crops. Declining fertility status of soil is now becoming primary concern for growing of the crops. This decline of the soil continues until management practices are improved, additional nutrients are applied, rotation with nitrogen fixing crops is practiced, or until a fallow period occurs allowing a gradual recovery of the soil through natural ecological development. Soil health is the foundation of a vigorous and sustainable food system. Plants obtain their nutrition from organic matter and minerals present in soils. As the land is cultivated, the agricultural process disturbs the natural soil systems including nutrient cycling and the release and uptake of nutrients. As the natural stores of the most important nutrients for plant growth decline in the soil, growth rates of crops are inhibited. The most widespread solution to this depletion is the application of soil amendments in the form of fertilizers containing the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Among these nutrients, nitrogen is considered the most limiting for plant growth. Nitrogen builds protein structures, hormones, chlorophyll, vitamins, and enzymes, and promotes stem and leaf growth. Biochar may be added to soils with the intention to improve the soil health, improve soil fertility, and sequester carbon. However, the variable application rates, uncertain feedstock effects, and initial soil state provide a wide range of cost for marginally improved yield from biochar additions, which is often economically impracticable. The need for further research on optimizing biochar application to improve crop yields.