Characterization of biochars and use of a biochar as source of macronutrients
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Date
2020-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
A pot experiment was conducted in the nethouse of Department of Soil Science, G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar to study the effect of graded levels of chemical fertilizers and biochar on dry matter yield, nutrient concentration and uptake by Oat (Avena sativa L.) and soil properties. Treatments imposed were combination of three fertilizer doses (0, 75 and 100% RDF) and five rates of biochar application rates (equivalent to 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 t/ha)in a two factorial completely randomized design with three replications. The experiment was carried out by selecting Fodder Oat (variety UPO 212) crop which was harvested sixty days after sowing. The present study revealed that application of 100% RDF and 5 t/ha biochar gave the higher dry matter yield of the fodder Oat crop. The application of the fertilizer doses although increased the N concentration in plants but it was declined by increasing the biochar dose. Phosphorus concentration in the plant was however unaffected by the application of biochar. Both the biochar and fertilizer application significantly increased the K concentration in plants. Total uptake of N, P and K by plants were the highest under the treatment receiving 100% RDF + 5 t biochar/ha. The soil after the experiment showed lower pH and elevated EC on fertilizer and biochar application. The soil organic C also showed a significant rise only by the application of the biochar doses. Soil extractable N was found to increase significantly with fertilizer application and higher biochar doses only. The biochar application failed to influence soil extractable P content. Soil extractable Kincreased significantly with the application of high biochar dose. Thus, biochar can be considered as a good soil amendment to be used conjointlywith fertilizers which can supplement the crop yield and improve the soil quality.