Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea
Biochar produced from pyrolysis of organic materials has been found to improve plant growth by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil as well as enhancing the sequestration of carbon dioxide that would release into the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic residues...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Open Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2020-0040 |
| _version_ | 1819128157452632064 |
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| author | Yeboah Edward Asamoah Gideon Ofori Patrick Amoah Ben Agyeman Kwaku Osei Adu |
| author_facet | Yeboah Edward Asamoah Gideon Ofori Patrick Amoah Ben Agyeman Kwaku Osei Adu |
| author_sort | Yeboah Edward |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biochar produced from pyrolysis of organic materials has been found to improve plant growth by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil as well as enhancing the sequestration of carbon dioxide that would release into the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic residues. However, there is scanty information on the methods used to apply biochar in order to optimize the benefits of biochar use for agricultural production. In view of this, a field study was carried out at the experimental field of CSIR – Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, to assess the effect of method of biochar application on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in a moderately acidic sandy Ferric Acrisol. The experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments imposed were as follows: control, broadcasting, spot and ring methods of application. The parameters assessed included growth and yield data as well as nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in shoots and grains. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition. The results showed that the spot and ring methods of application significantly enhanced height, girth, nodule number and dry weight, shoot biomass and grain yield as well as nitrogen and phosphorus contents in shoots and grains when compared with the broadcasting method and control. This study therefore recommends the spot and ring methods of biochar application for adoption in cowpea production for enhanced growth, yield and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:23:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c726d252bce549078761fb7c7f3093d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2391-9531 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:23:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-c726d252bce549078761fb7c7f3093d32022-12-21T18:32:41ZengDe GruyterOpen Agriculture2391-95312020-08-015135236010.1515/opag-2020-0040opag-2020-0040Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpeaYeboah Edward0Asamoah Gideon1Ofori Patrick2Amoah Ben3Agyeman Kwaku Osei Adu4Soil Microbiology Division, CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso, Kumasi, GhanaSoil Microbiology Division, CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso, Kumasi, GhanaSoil Microbiology Division, CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso, Kumasi, GhanaSoil Microbiology Division, CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso, Kumasi, GhanaSoil Microbiology Division, CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso, Kumasi, GhanaBiochar produced from pyrolysis of organic materials has been found to improve plant growth by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil as well as enhancing the sequestration of carbon dioxide that would release into the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic residues. However, there is scanty information on the methods used to apply biochar in order to optimize the benefits of biochar use for agricultural production. In view of this, a field study was carried out at the experimental field of CSIR – Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, to assess the effect of method of biochar application on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in a moderately acidic sandy Ferric Acrisol. The experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments imposed were as follows: control, broadcasting, spot and ring methods of application. The parameters assessed included growth and yield data as well as nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in shoots and grains. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition. The results showed that the spot and ring methods of application significantly enhanced height, girth, nodule number and dry weight, shoot biomass and grain yield as well as nitrogen and phosphorus contents in shoots and grains when compared with the broadcasting method and control. This study therefore recommends the spot and ring methods of biochar application for adoption in cowpea production for enhanced growth, yield and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake.https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2020-0040biocharsoil fertilitynutrient uptakeproductivity |
| spellingShingle | Yeboah Edward Asamoah Gideon Ofori Patrick Amoah Ben Agyeman Kwaku Osei Adu Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea Open Agriculture biochar soil fertility nutrient uptake productivity |
| title | Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| title_full | Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| title_fullStr | Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| title_short | Method of biochar application affects growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| title_sort | method of biochar application affects growth yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea |
| topic | biochar soil fertility nutrient uptake productivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2020-0040 |
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