Biochar Amendments and Their Residual Effect on Soil Chemical Properties and Growth Components of Greenleaf (Amaranthus caudatus) In Nutrients Depleted soil
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Abstract
Soil nutrients depletion is often a problem associated with the Tropical soils. This study aims to investigate the effect of biochars produced from different feedstock on depleted soil nutrients, growth of Greenleaf (Amaranthus caudatus), some nutrients uptake and their residual effect in the following year. Six types of biochar that originated from cow dung (CDB), goat dung (GDB), poultry dropping (PDB), rice husks (RHB), composted rice husks (CRHB), and mixed feedstock (MFB) (combination of the first named five feed stocks) constituted the treatment. There was also a control (C) that had no amendment. The six amendments were applied once at the rate of 3t/ha to the soil on a plot size of 3m x 3m each, at the research and training farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in 2014 planting season and the residual effect evaluated in 2015 planting season. Greenleaf was planted in each plot at 2014 and 2015 planting seasons. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replicates. Results of the study showed that MFB increased soil pH in water from the initial value of 5.10 before treatment application to 6.21 at the end of the experiment in 2014, while PDB had a residual effect on the pH with a value of5.93 in 2015. PDB showed a significant increase in available phosphorus with values of 68.70 mg/kg and 53.7 mg/kg in 2014 and 2015 respectively. CDB increased the organic carbon above the other treatments in 2015, while MFB increased the exchangeable potassium in the two planting seasons. The uptake of N and P were increased by MFB in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Application of MFB, PDB and CDB resulted in the replenishment of most depleted soil nutrients, Greenleaf growth and nutrients uptake. The three biochar sources could be a good alternative in the absence of fertilizers for soil nutrient improvement and increase crop yields as their residual effects last beyond the year of application.
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References
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