Use of charcoal (biochar) to enhance tropical soil fertility: A case of Masako in Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Soil fertility transience in the region of Masako in Democratic Republic (RD) of Congo remains a major challenge to sustainable agricultural production. Recently, biochar application as soil amendment has attracted attention of the people across the world owing to its potential to improve soil physicochemical properties, crop yield and carbon sequestration into the soil. A study was conducted in Masako to analyze the use of charcoal (biochar) as soil amendment and assess its effects on soil chemical performance and some biophysical parameters of maize crop. The experiment was set up using randomized complete block design with three replications of three treatments comprising ½ kg of sieved (small-sized particulate) charcoal per m 2 (C 1 ), 1 kg of sieved charcoal per m 2 (C 2 ) and control group without charcoal (C 0 ). Data were subjected to analysis of variance, Pearson's phenotypic correlation and regression analyses using genstat 12 th edition. The results of the analysis of variance showed non-significant variation for most physicochemical properties of soil and maize phenotypic traits, indicating that treatments had the same effects on soil composition suggesting that there was no clear impact of charcoal amendment as applied except for phosphorus content and collar diameter of the maize crop which were significantly (P ≤ 0.047 and P ≤ 0.043 respectively) influenced by the treatments. The results indicated that biochar improved the soil phosphorus availability by up to 72% as accounted for by the linear contribution of the treatment C 2 indicating that biochar could be recommended for use in soil with low level of phosphorous.

Assessment of the Yam Landraces (Dioscorea spp.) of DR Congo for Reactions to Pathological Diseases, Yield Potential, and Tuber Quality Characteristics

“…The evaluation sites are characterized by the dense humid forest vegetation with an irregularly distributed rainfall pattern throughout the year (3156 mm annual). The soil type in both locations is mostly oxisols (ferralsols ac-cording to FAO classification) [17], and the mean temperature range is 21-35 • C minimum and maximum temperatures, respectively.…”

Characterization of biochar enriched with compost tea, its effects and after-effects in continuous cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) on a ferralsol of Lubuya Bera, Tshopo Province, R.D.Congo

“…The yield of our test varying between 4.07 to 7.39 t. ha -1 exceeds that of [47] which, using mineral fertilizers, obtains 3.7 t. ha -1 with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi against 6.1 t. ha -1 for 60 kg of P2O5 and 5 t. ha -1 for the combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and 60 kg of P2O5. [48] found, all treatments combined, yields of around 3.9 t. ha -1 . Our trial with an average yield of 5.4 t.ha -1 all seasons combined is part of a resilient agriculture, the after effects of biochar enriched with compost tea can generate higher yields.…”

PERBAIKAN PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL KEDELAI HITAM (Glycine max (L.) MERRIL) DENGAN BIOCHAR DAN PUPUK NPK DI LAHAN KERING

“…Biochar merupakan karbon stabil sehingga sangat mendukung produktivitas yang keberlanjutan (Rawat et al, 2019). Pengaruh positif penerapan biochar pada interaksi antara tanah-tanaman-air menyebabkan kinerja fotosintesis menjadi lebih baik (Rawat et al, 2019), perbaikan bahan organik tanah dan sifat fisik dari ketiga jenis tanah (Widowati et al, 2020), peningkatan stabilitas agregat tanah, kandungan C-organik, retensi air dan hara dalam tanah (Glaser et al, 2002), biochar meningkatkan ketersediaan P tanah hingga 72% (Tanzito et al, 2020), meningkatkan produktivitas kedelai kuning (Jaya et al, 2018;Sa'adah dan Islami., 2019), biochar mengandung N total, P tersedia, dan KTK tanah (Dume et al, 2016).…”