SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF BIOCHAR BASED NANO-PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON GROUNDNUT PRODUCTIVITY IN ALFISOLS
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Date
2024-05-23
Authors
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Publisher
Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Synthesis, characterization and
evaluation of the efficacy of biochar based nano-phosphorus fertilizer on
groundnut productivity in Alfisols” was carried out involving three experiments
during 2020 and 2021 at S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati campus of
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University of Andhra Pradesh.
Nanoscale phosphorus particles were prepared by the biological method
by using Stevia leaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent. Surface
modification of biochar was done through acid wash and gum acacia was used
as a binding agent for loading of nano-phosphorous particles. The techniques
such as, UV-VIS spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the biochar based
phosphorus fertilizer (BBPF), biochar based nano-phosphorus fertilizer (BBNPF)
and nano phosphorous (NP). The synthesized BBPF, BBNPF and NP mean
size was 110.8, 87.6 and 53.7 nm, respectively.
A pot culture experiment was carried out to know the effect of different
concentrations of BBPF and BBNPF on groundnut plants. Increased plant
height, higher values of dry matter, leaf area, phosphorus content and
phosphorus uptake and significantly higher yield parameters (number of pod
plant-1
, number of kernels plant-1
, kernel weight plant-1
) in groundnut were
recorded with the application of BBPF and BBNPF.
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Based on the results obtained from the pot culture experiment, the treatments
viz., 100% RDP + BBPF @ 10 kg ha-1
, 75% RDP + BBPF @ 10 kg ha-1
and
75% RDP + BBPF @ 8 kg ha-1
, 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
, 75% RDP +
BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1 and 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 6 kg ha-1 were identified as
prominent doses and were taken up for field evaluation.
The field experiments were conducted during two seasons viz., kharif 2020-21 and rabi 2020-21 in wetland farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati.
The experiments were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three
replications and ten treatments (with groundnut cultivar ‘Dharani’). BBPF and
BBNPF were applied as per the treatments, while nitrogen and potassium were
applied common to all the treatments and gypsum was applied (just before
flowering stage) @ 500 kg ha-1
.
BBPF and BBNPF levels significantly influenced the growth
parameters, yield and yield attributes, phosphorus uptake, and post-harvest soil
available phosphorus and overall economic returns of groundnut.
Higher leaf area index was recorded with soil application 100% RDP +
BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7). The next best results were noticed with the 75% RDP +
BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T8). At all the stages of observation, maximum dry matter
was recorded with the application of 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7).
However, nodule count was not significantly influenced by the treatments at
different stages of sampling (30, 60, 90 DAS and harvest) during both seasons
of experimentation except at 30 DAS during rabi season.
With regard to the yield attributes viz., number of pods plant-1
, 100-pod
weight, 100-kernel weight and shelling percentage were higher with the application
of 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7). The next best treatment was 75%
RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T8) and lower number of pods plant-1
, 100-pod
weight, 100-kernel weight and shelling percentage of groundnut were recorded
with the control, during both the instances of study.
The pod yield and haulm yields of groundnut were significantly influenced
by the soil application of BBPF and BBNPF. The higher pod yield was
recorded with the application of 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7). The
haulm yield of groundnut increased significantly with 100% RDP + Soil
application of BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1 (T7) which was however at par with 75%
RDP + Soil application of BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1 (T8) and statistically comparable
with 100% RDP + BBPF @ 10 kg ha-1 (T6). Lower pod yield and haulm yields
were noticed with the no application of fertilizers (T1). Similar trend was noticed
during both the seasons of investigation.
Soil application of biochar based phosphorus and nano-phosphorus
significantly influenced phosphorus content and phosphorus uptake of groundnut
at different stages during both seasons of study. The phosphorus content and
phosphorus uptake were higher with the soil application of 100% RDP +
BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7). The lower phosphorus content and phosphorus uptake
by groundnut were recorded with the control (T1).
xxii
BBPF and BBNPF levels failed to exert significant influence on the post
harvest soil physical (soil texture, bulk density, porosity and maximum water
holding capacity) and soil physico-chemical (soil pH, EC and OC) properties
during both the seasons of study.
Post-harvest available nitrogen and phosphorus status (soil) were significantly
influenced by the applied levels of BBP and BBNP during both the seasons of
the investigation. The higher available nitrogen and phosphorus were recorded
with the application of 100% RDP + soil application of BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7). The lower levels of available nitrogen and phosphorus were noticed with
the control (T1), whereas, the effect on available potassium was not statistically
significant by the imposed treatments.
Post harvest available secondary (Ca, Mg and S) and micronutrients
(Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in soil were found to be non-significant with the soil
application of BBPF and BBNPF, during both the years of study.
Among the different treatments, the higher gross returns, net returns and
benefit-cost ratio were realized with the soil application of 100% RDP +
BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T7) which was comparable with 75% RDP + soil
application of BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
(T8). However, lower economic returns were
recorded with the crop that has not received any application of nutrients (T1),
during both seasons of experimentation.
In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that the soil
application of 100% RDP + BBNPF @ 4 kg ha-1
recorded higher pod yield and
economic returns in groundnut grown in red sandy loam soils. Further, loading
of nano-phosphorus with biochar and the consequent application to the soil
enhance the phosphorus availability with an extended period of time due to
slow-release activity and thereby sustain the groundnut productivity