Biochar Tablets with and without Embedded Fertilizer on the Soil Chemical Characteristics and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Zea mays

Yit Leng Lee, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed, Samsuri Abdul Wahid and Zakry Fitri AB Aziz
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Yit Leng Lee: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Kampus Alam UniMAP Pauh Putra, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau 02600, Perlis, Malaysia
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed: Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
Samsuri Abdul Wahid: Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Zakry Fitri AB Aziz: Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Densification of ashy biochar into tablet can enhance the handling and conveyance efficiencies of biochar. It was hypothesized that fertilizer-embedded biochar tablets can slowly release embedded nutrients in synchrony with optimum nutrient uptake by crops. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of biochar tablets with and without embedded fertilizer on soil chemical properties and nutrient use efficiency of Zea mays (sweet corn). The biochar tablet (BT) was produced by blending a biochar mixture with starch followed by densification using a single punch tablet press whereas the fertilizer embedded biochar tablet (BF) was prepared using the same procedure except that NPK fertilizer was added during blending. A pot experiment with five fertilization treatments including control was carried out in an open field located in Perlis, Malaysia. Co-application of biochar and fertilizer increased soil total carbon, nitrogen, but it reduced soil electrical conductivity (EC). Additionally, the BF significantly increased leaf chlorophyll content, dry root weight, and total plant nutrient use efficiency of sweet corn. The findings suggest that BF can serve as a slow release fertilizer to improve crop nutrient use efficiency. Therefore, embedding fertilizer in biochar tablets is recommended for sweet corn production following a long term field study to confirm the findings of this pot study.

Keywords: rice residues; densification; leaf chlorophyll content; ammonium; slow release nutrient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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