PJB-2017-923
CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF LOW TEMPERATURE PRODUCED PEANUT-WASTE BIOCHAR FOR IMPROVING MAIZE GROWTH, PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRIENT RECOVERY, AND SOIL NUTRIENT DYNAMICS IN AN ARIDISOL
Muhammad Aon
Abstract
To make nutrient deficient aridisols suited for sustainable crop production, enhancement of soil organic carbon (SOC) along with improvement in soil nutrient dynamics, is of vital importance. In present study, peanut-waste (PW) biochar was prepared using slow pyrolysis at 300°C with 20 min residence time. After characterization, PW biochar was mixed with an aridisol (alkaline calcareous soil) at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% of soil on w/w basis. Maize hybrid ‘Syngenta-6621’ was grown over a period of 45 days. Application of PW biochar improved maize chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. As a result of 2.0% PW biochar addition, a significant increase in dry weight (40%), N uptake (79%), P uptake (90%) and K uptake (66%) was observed, over control treatment. Highest N and P recovery (5 and 3%, respectively) was observed at 1.5% PW biochar rate, while 1.0% PW biochar addition resulted maximum K recovery (13%). Soil CEC and SOC content were significantly improved as a result of 1.0 to 2.0% PW biochar addition, over control treatment. Significant decrease in soil pH was observed as a result of 1.0 to 2.0% PW biochar addition, over control. Whereas, significant increase in soil ammonium-nitrogen and available P content was observed as a result of 1.5 and 2.0% PW biochar addition. However, with respect to control treatment, PW biochar addition did not show any significant effect on soil nitrate-nitrogen content. Conclusively, addition of 1.5% PW biochar may be suitable for an aridisol to improve maize growth and soil ammonium-nitrogen and available P.
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