EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE OF BIOCHAR ON OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
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Date
2018-07
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot (COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE, GKVK POST, BANGALURU)
Abstract
Biochar application in horticulture has been proved positive crop response, improved soil properties along with mitigation of climate change. The present study was conducted at Regional Horticulture Research and Extension Centre, UHS campus, GKVK, Bengaluru during kharif 2017-18. The study was aimed to standardize the biochar production methods by using different feedstock materials and its effect on performance of okra. Biochar was produced by adopting two methods, namely heap and drum method by using different feedstock materials viz., coconut husk, coconut midrib, arecanut husk and Prosopis juliflora. Among different production methods and feedstock materials, coconut husk was showed maximum recovery percentage and maximum water holding capacity in drum method compared to heap method. The coconut husk biochar was enriched with organics (Cowdung slurry and cow urine) and inorganics (NPK: 19:19:19 and NPK: 19:19:19+Zn+B) at 1:1 ratio and were analyzed for various physical and chemical properties. Among different materials, coconut husk biochar enriched with cowdung slurry was recorded statistically higher nutrient status compared to other enriched materials. Enriched biochar was incubated with different soils viz., acid, alkaline and experimental (neutral) soils at different doses viz., 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1 with control for 120 days at field conditions. The treatment which received enriched biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 has shown the significantly higher nutrients content and possessed better physical properties after 120 days of incubation in all soils. Further, biochar acts as soil amendment in reclaiming both acidic and alkali soils by bringing the soil pH to neutrality. The application of enriched biochar @ 50% FYM + 100 % NPK has enhanced the growth and yield attributes of okra in field experiment. At harvest, it was also found that the treatment which received only biochar at all three levels has increased the available nutrients content of soil as compared to initial values of experiment.