Improvements in wheat productivity and soil quality can accomplish by co-application of biochars and chemical fertilizers

Abstract

The beneficial role of biochar is evident in most of infertile soils, however this is argued that increment in crop yield owing to biochar application does not always achieve in cultivated/fertile soils. The nutrient biochar believed to enhance crop yield and soil fertility than structural biochar that may offset the positive effect of chemical fertilizer on crop performance but improves soil structural properties. Therefore, we investigated the effect of biochars [produced from nutrient rich feedstocks like poultry manure (PMB) and farmyard manure (FMB) and structural feedstocks such as wood chips (WCB) and kitchen waste (KWB)], and chemical fertilizers (CF) when applied alone or in combination on soil chemical properties, wheat growth, yield and nitrogen uptake in a cultivated clay loam soil. Sole biochar treatments increased the total carbon and mineral nitrogen content that were 21 and 106% higher, respectively compared to control after 128days (P<0.001). Contrarily, sole biochars application did not increase wheat biological yield and N uptake compared to control (P>0.05) except PMB, the nutrient biochar (P<0.05). Compared to control, grain yield was 6 and 12% lower in WCB and FMB, respectively but not differed from KWB, PMB or WCB-CF. Conversely, co-application of biochars and CF treatments increased crop biological yield but the increment was the highest in nutrient biochars FMB or PMB (29 or 26%), than structural biochars WCB and KWB (15 and 13%), respectively (P<0.05). For N uptake, this increment varies between 16 and 27% and again nutrient biochar has significantly higher N uptake than structural biochars. Hence, nutrient biochars (i.e. PMB) benefited the soil fertility and crop productivity more than structural biochars. Therefore, for immediate crop benefits, it is recommended to use nutrient biochar alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer. Such practice will improve crop performance and the quality of cultivated soil.

Role of Nutrient-Enriched Biochar as a Soil Amendment during Maize Growth: Exploring Practical Alternatives to Recycle Agricultural Residuals and to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Demand

“…Similar results were reported by Mete et al [27], Lima et al [68], Sadaf et al [47] where NPK treatments gave higher maize biomass and soybean yield, compared to biochar or biochar in combination with NPK. In a recent study, in [61] an increase in yield and N uptake in rain-fed rice yield in two contrasting soils was reported, following the application of rice husk biochar combined with chemical NPK.…”

“…Finally, the macro nutrient (Ca, Mg, Mn, and Na) and heavy metal (Cr, As, Fe, Zn, and Cu) uptake was calculated by multiplying the total dry biomass weight by the individual ion content [46]. Apparent nutrient recovery (ANR) from all treatments was calculated according to Sadaf et al [47] using Equation 1:…”

Research on biocharviaa comprehensive scientometric approach

“…This was reasonable because it was demonstrated that land degradation would have a great negative inuence on the food security and crop yields worldwide. 45 The reasons causing land degradation were various, including growing exhaustive crops, using too much chemical fertilizers and using improper agriculture practices. 46,47 Biochar had some good characteristics, including being rich in nutrients, improving the nutrient utilization efficiency of crops, adjusting soil pH and removal of soil pollutants, etc.…”

Biochar Type and Ratio as a Peat Additive/Partial Peat Replacement in Growing Media for Cabbage Seedling Production

“…At the same time, effective applications are questionable, as farmers need to combine biochar application with sustainable fertilizers and water input [5]. Biochar efficacy on yield increase was attributed to the application of the material in unfertile/barren lands, rather than to fertile soils [12] and the biochar co-application with fertilizers has been suggested [13].…”