The Effects of Gliricidia -Derived Biochar on Sequential Maize and Bean Farming

Ana Castro, Nilcileny Da Silva Batista, Agnieszka E. Latawiec, Aline Rodrigues, Bernardo Strassburg, Daniel Silva, Ednaldo Araujo, Luiz Fernando D. De Moraes, Jose Guilherme Guerra, Gabriel Galvão, Helena Alves-Pinto, Maiara Mendes, Juliana Silveira Dos Santos, Marcio C. Rangel, Mariela Figueredo, Gerard Cornelissen and Sarah Hale
Additional contact information
Ana Castro: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Nilcileny Da Silva Batista: Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-000, Brazil
Agnieszka E. Latawiec: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Aline Rodrigues: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Bernardo Strassburg: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Daniel Silva: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Ednaldo Araujo: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Agrobiology, Rodovia BR-465, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-000, Brazil
Luiz Fernando D. De Moraes: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Agrobiology, Rodovia BR-465, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-000, Brazil
Jose Guilherme Guerra: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Agrobiology, Rodovia BR-465, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-000, Brazil
Gabriel Galvão: International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro 22460-320, Brazil
Helena Alves-Pinto: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Maiara Mendes: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Juliana Silveira Dos Santos: Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro 22453-900, Brazil
Marcio C. Rangel: International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro 22460-320, Brazil
Mariela Figueredo: International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, Rio de Janeiro 22460-320, Brazil
Gerard Cornelissen: Department of Environmental Engineering, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway
Sarah Hale: Department of Environmental Engineering, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806 Oslo, Norway

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: The addition of biochar to soils can improve soil fertility and increase agricultural productivity. We carried out a field experiment in which biochar produced from Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. was added to low-fertility Brazilian planosol and tested to increase the yield of maize ( Zea mays ) and snap beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in sequential, organic cultivation. Biochar was applied at a 15 t/ha rate, combined or not with Azospirillum Brasiliense inoculation and organic fertilizer (Bokashi). The application of biochar resulted in an increase in soil pH and of the content of macronutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. Contrary to evidence from elsewhere, biochar had a limited effect on increasing maize yield. In the case of beans, when combined with fertilizer, biochar increased the production of beans pods and biomass, but the significant increase was observed only for inoculation. Beans are the principal component of Brazilian diet and increasing productivity of beans is of upmost importance for the poorest in Brazil, and in other tropical countries.

Keywords: biochar; maize and beans; smallholder farming; productivity; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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