Biochar From Feedstock: A Strategy To Improve Agronomic Performances And Microbial Biomass of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum I.) Plant.
Abstract Tomato is beneficial to human health because it contains valuable vitamins such as vitamins A, C and several minerals. However, to meet up with the demands of the ever increasing population, there is need to improve tomato production. This research, investigated the impact of biochar derived from rice husk on agronomic performances of tomato plant. The rice husk biochar pyrolysed at 350 ºC was amended with soil at four different application rates: 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t/ha. Physicochemical property of soil was conducted using Mid Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy method. Impact of biochar on Microbial Biomass Carbon, Microbial Biomass Nitrogen and Microbial Biomass Phosphorous was conducted using fumigation extraction method and monitored at three functional stages. Biochar application appreciably increase the soil physicochemical properties such as pH, Ca, Na, H+, S, P, B, Zn and cation exchangeable capacity. Biochar amended soil significantly enhanced tomato height, fruit yields and weight. The ratio of Microbial biomass C: N: P for biochar amended soil at 7.5 t/ha (B3) was 302.30: 18.81: 11.75 µg/g, compared to control, which was 242.12: 18.30: 11.49 µg/g. This study revealed that biochar amendments significantly (p < 0.05) increased the yields and microbial biomass of tomato plant.