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Biochar on Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity

Md. Mojammel Haque
Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Md. Mizanur Rahman
Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Md. Monjur Morshed
Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Md. Shafiqul Islam
Department of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Md. Safiul Islam Afrad
Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field in Shibalaya upazilla of Manikganj district during rabi season of 2017 to study the effectiveness of biochar on soil fertility and yields of brinjal and cauliflower. There were five treatments viz. control, recommended inorganic fertilizer (RF), biochar 1 t/ha + RF, biochar 3 t/ha + RF and biochar 5 t/ha + RF laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data revealed that biochar at the rate of 5 t/ha along with RF provided maximum yields of brinjal (67 t/ha) and cauliflower (42 t/ha). The pH, nutrients and moisture contents of the study soils increased and bulk density decreased with the higher rates of biochar application. Significant changes were observed in the total organic carbon in soils which increased by 25 to 41% from the initial levels. Recovery, agronomic and physiological efficiencies of N, P, K and S were found the highest with the application of biochar 5 t/ha. In terms of soil fertility and crop productivity application of biochar was found promising and can be recommended as an effective soil management practice.

Keywords: Crop productivity, Soil fertility, Biochar, Carbon stock, Brinjal,

Location: Shibalaya upazilla of Manikgonj

Start Date: 00-00-2017

End Date: 00-00-2017

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil fertility

Objectives:

The present study was designed for assessing the effectiveness of biochar in terms of improving soil health and agricultural sustainability.

Methodology:

Experimental site and season- The experimental site was located at Shibalaya upazilla of Manikgonj which is about 80 km south-west from Dhaka city. It lies between 23.86⁰ North latitude and 90⁰ East longitude with an elevation of 11 m from sea level, which is under the Young Brahmaputra and Jamuna Floodplain (AEZ 8). The field experiments were conducted during rabi season of 2017 using cauliflower (BARI Phulcopy-2) and brinjal (BARI Hybrid Begun-4) as test crops. This area is occupied by permeable silt loam to silty clay loam soils on the ridges and impermeable clays in the basins which are neutral to slightly acidic in reaction. General soil types include predominantly Grey Floodplain soils. Organic matter content is low in ridges and moderate in basins. The climate of the area is tropical monsoon zone. The hot summer, the long rainy season and the pleasant spring cum winter are the main noticeable seasons prevailing in the district. The summer begins at the end of March and is merged with the rainy season that continues up to September. The duration of the winter is recorded from early November to let February. Soil properties of the experimental plots- Before starting the experiment, soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm depths of brinjal and cauliflower plots for determining soil moisture, bulk density, organic carbon, soil pH, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and sulfur using standard methods (Page et al., 1982). The soil samples were air dried, ground to pass through 2 mm sieve and used for analysis. Treatments, experimental design and biochar application- The field experiments were conducted taking five treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were control, recommended inorganic fertilizer (RF), biochar 1 t ha^-1 + RF, biochar 3 t ha^-1 + RF and biochar 5 t ha^-1 + RF. Biochar was produced in farmer’s house while cooking family foods using mahogany wood through ‘Akha Chola’ provided by Christian Commission for Development of Bangladesh (CCDB). The ‘Akha’ is a special Chola that makes the fuel wood partially burned and after cooking it is cooled down and grinded to smaller particles for field application. Biochar was analyzed before application to crop field. The moisture content of biochar was 17.3%, and pH was 7.78 which indicated that biochar was alkaline in nature. Total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and carbon contents were 0.89, 0.26, 0.21 and 27%, respectively, with a C:N ratio of 30.33. Biochar was applied one week before transplanting of vegetable seedlings to plots. Planting of seedlings, fertilizer and irrigation water application- Thirty-day old seedlings of cauliflower and thirty five-day old seedlings of brinjal were planted maintaining a spacing of 45 × 60 cm and 70 × 80 cm, respectively. Soil test based fertilizers were applied. Biochar, potassium from muriate of potash (MoP) and sulphur from gypsum were applied at the time of final land preparation. Phosphorus status of initial soil in crop field was very high and hence P fertilizer was not applied. The rates of N, K and S for cauliflower were 49.33, 42.64 and 17.75 kg/ha, respectively, while the rates for brinjal were 71.55, 22.0 and 14.12 kg/ha, respectively. Nitrogen from urea was applied in three splits. One-third of urea was applied at the time of final land preparation. The remaining two-thirds were top dressed at maximum growth stage and 5-7 days before curd initiation, respectively. In case of brinjal, two- thirds were top dressed at maximum growth and flowering stages, respectively. Irrigation water was applied weekly basis. No pesticide was applied as there was no pest infestation during the growing season. Carbon stock Carbon stock estimated using equation as follows: C stock (t/ha) = Conc. of soil C (%) x soil bulk density (g/c.c.) x soil depth (cm). Crop harvesting and collection of plant and soil samples for analysis- Cauliflower curds and brinjal fruits were collected 5 times and total fresh weights were recorded as kg/plot which was then extrapolated to t/ha. Plant samples from each plot were collected after maturing the curd and the fruit of brinjal. Samples were washed with tap water followed by distilled water to remove soil particles. Then the samples were weighed, chopped and dried in room temperature before oven drying at 70⁰ C for 72 hours. After drying the samples were weighed for dry matter content. Samples were placed in coin envelopes and dried again before chemical analysis. Post-harvest soil samples (core and composite) were collected from each plots of both cauliflower and brinjal considering a depth of 0-15 cm. The soil samples were air-dried, ground and sieved through a 10 mesh sieve. This air-dried ground samples were stored in the clean plastic bag for subsequent physical and chemical analyses.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 2019; 17(1-2) 76-88

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/agric.v17i1-2.44698

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Biochar improves nutrients availability in soils through improving soil chemical, physical and biological properties. Studies have proved that biochar has a great potential to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity by reducing soil acidity, increasing CEC, increasing soil organic matter and nutrient retention and plant nutrient availability. The yields of cauliflower and brinjal were also increased with the application of biochar compared to the recommended sole inorganic fertilizers. The maximum yields of cauliflower and brinjal were found 42 and 67 t/ha when biochar was applied at the rate of 5 t/ha. Carbon stocks in soil were increased with application of biochar where organic carbon increased by 25 to 41% from the initial levels.

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