Biochar and/or Compost Applications Improve Soil Properties, Growth, and Yield of Maize Grown in Acidic Rainforest and Coastal Savannah Soils in Ghana

Mensah, Albert Kobina; Frimpong, Kwame

doi:10.1155/2018/6837404

Cited by 157 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The increase in SOM was due to these amendments are endowed with a sizeable amount of total carbon within their structure with respectively 236 and 521 g kg -1 for compost and biochar, which underwent microbial decomposition, as well as could have sequestered atmospheric CO2. An upward trend in SOM due to compost addition was in agreement with (Cox et al, 2001;Mensah & Frimpong, 2018), while the one due to biochar addition was also in accordance with (Demisie et al, 2014;Mensah & Frimpong, 2018). Additionally, the contribution of organic materials in escalating SOM has been previously evidenced by Theobald et al (2018).…”

Section: Soil Organic Mattersupporting

confidence: 86%

Untitled

2020

Carpath. J. Earth Environ. Sci.

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The profitability of a sandy clay loam (SCL) soil is well known to be constrained due to poor aggregation and aggregate stability, rapid infiltration and drainage of water, as well as low capability of retaining water and nutrients, and thereby culminating in decreased water and fertilizer use efficiency, which in turn decrease agricultural production. Thus, organic materials have long been reported as a promising avenue for addressing the aforementioned difficulties in different soil types. In this regard, the aims of this study were to determine the effect of applying Oleaster tree pruning residues (OPR) in two the different forms (compost and biochar) as an organic material on improving aggregation and water retention characteristic of a SCL soil. Biochar was obtained from OPR through pyrolysis process at 450 0 C, while compost was obtained from composting of the OPR through windrow composting process. Compost and biochar were individually applied to a SCL soil at a rate of 0, 1, 2 and 4% (wt/wt) with four replications and thoroughly mixed with the soil, then moistened to field capacity (FC) equated to 0.29 g g -1 and subsequently incubated for the period of two months. At the end of incubation period, obtained experimental results indicated that applied compost and biochar significantly improved aggregation and water retention characteristics of a SCL soil and improvements were proportional to application rates. We concluded that both applied forms of the OPR (compost and biochar) could be considered leading soil amendments for improving aggregation and water retention capacity of a SCL, and thereby enhancing agricultural production.

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Section: Soil Organic Mattersupporting

confidence: 86%

Untitled

2020

Carpath. J. Earth Environ. Sci.

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“…There are two aspects which make biochar amendment superior to other organic materials: the first is the high stability against decay, so that it can remain in soil for longer times providing long-term benefits to soil and the second is having more capability to retain the nutrients. Biochar amendment improves soil quality by increasing soil pH, moisture-holding capacity, cation-exchange capacity, and microbial flora [56].…”

Section: Biochar As a Soil Amendmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar: A Sustainable Approach for Improving Plant Growth and Soil Properties

Rawat¹,

Saxena²,

Sanwal³

2019

Biochar - An Imperative Amendment for Soil and the Environment

171

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Soil is the most important source and an abode for many nutrients and microflora. Due to rapid depletion of agricultural areas and soil quality by means of ever-increasing population and an excessive addition of chemical fertilizers, a rehabilitated attention is a need of the hour to maintain sustainable approaches in agricultural crop production. Biochar is the solid, carbon-rich material obtained by pyrolysis using different biomasses. It has been widely documented in previous studies that, the crop growth and yield can be increased by using biochar. This chapter exclusively summarizes the properties of biochar, its interaction with soil microflora, and its role in plant growth promotion when added to the soil.

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“…The increase in pH with increase in dosage of biochar and fertilizer implies that application of biochar to agricultural soil in Ghana can help ameliorate the soil acidity problem identified by Dovana & Cassy [3]; Smith-Asante, [2]. In a similar study, Mensah and Frimpong [27] found that application of biochar with compost increased the soil pH. The increase in the pH could be attributed to the increase in available soil P due the presence of P in biochar [43] [44].…”

Section: Soil Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Field-testing of biochar in Ghana has started albeit in a slow manner. Mensah and Frimpong [27] conducted an investigation on the effects of application of biochar (from corncobs) and compost on soil physicochemical properties, growth, and yield of maize on selected soils from the Rainforest and Coastal Savannah agroecological zones of Ghana. Amoakwah et al, [28] studied how biochar from corncobs alters soil water retention, air flow and derived soil structure indices in a tropical sandy loam.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors however recommended that more studies be done to assess and confirm the effect of application of biochar on the physicochemical properties of soil and yield of crops [27]. In view of this, this study seeks to examine the effect of application of biochar (produced from sawdust) on the physicochemical properties of soil and yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biochar as a Soil Amendment Tool: Effects on Soil Properties and Yield of Maize and Cabbage in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana

Akolgo¹,

Kemausuor²,

Awafo³

et al. 2020

OJSS

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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.

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Biochar and/or Compost Applications Improve Soil Properties, Growth, and Yield of Maize Grown in Acidic Rainforest and Coastal Savannah Soils in Ghana

Cited by 157 publications

References 23 publications

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Biochar: A Sustainable Approach for Improving Plant Growth and Soil Properties

Biochar as a Soil Amendment Tool: Effects on Soil Properties and Yield of Maize and Cabbage in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana

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