Wood Vinegar Promotes Soil Health and the Productivity of Cowpea

Abstract

Wood vinegar (WV) is a biostimulant and a biopesticide that contains pyroligneous acid and is used as a crop growth enhancer and biocontrol agent, but insufficient information exists on WV’s effects on soil quality and cowpea production in Ghana. A field study (2 years) was conducted to determine the appropriate method of applying WV for soil health and cowpea production, and to determine the economic benefits of WV. Assessments were on nodulation, shoot biomass, yield, value–cost ratio, soil enzymes, soil respiration, microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), permanganate-oxidizable carbon (POXC), mineralizable C, soil pH, available nitrogen and phosphorus. Results revealed soil drenching and foliar application are efficient methods of applying WV to achieve greater shoot dry matter, nodulation and grain yield of cowpea. Economically, soil drenching, followed by foliar application, generated better economic returns than the control. Adding WV to cowpea using soil drenching and foliar application improved soil health indicators. Soil enzymes and MBN were enhanced by WV applied foliarly and through soil drenching. Soil drenching with WV produced greater POXC and mineralizable C compared to the other treatments. Conclusively, WV applied foliarly and through soil drenching improved soil health, nodulation and yields of cowpea, and enhanced profitability.

Wood Distillate Interactions with Urea in Soil: A First Step to Developing a Slow-Release Next-Generation Fertilizer

“…Finally, the fact that this interaction occurs also in the sample where no urea has been added let us assume that WD can also inhibit the faster mineralization of organic N …”

The Potential of Wood Vinegar to Replace Antimicrobials Used in Animal Husbandry—A Review

“…Some research of WV's effects on soil microorganisms and plant uptake has been carried out, indicating no harmful effects when residues of the product are incorporated in arable soils. According to Akley et al [195], foliar application of WV on cowpea plants combined with soil drenching improved soil health, nodulation, and cowpea yields and enhanced profitability in Ghana. Koç et al [196] demonstrated that WV obtained from hazelnut shells in concentrations up to 3% positively affected the number of soil bacteria and beta-glucosidase enzyme activity.…”