scholarly journals Chemical and Biological Enhancement Effects of Biochar on Wheat Growth and Yield under Arid Field Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5890
Author(s):  
Zarmeena Khan ◽  
Muhammad Habib ur Rahman ◽  
Ghulam Haider ◽  
Rabia Amir ◽  
Rao Muhammad Ikram ◽  
...  

Nitrogen (N) losses are prevalent under South East Asia’s due to high N fertilizer inputs, but low N fertilizer use efficiency. This leaves a large quantity of reactive N at risk of loss to the environment. Biochar has been found to reduce N losses across a variety of soil types, however, there is limited data available for semi-arid climates, particularly at a field-scale. Herein we present an exploration of the biological and chemical enhancement effects observed of a cotton stalk-based biochar on wheat growth and yield under arid field conditions. The biochar was treated with urea-N and biofertilizer (bio-power) in different treatment setups. The six experimental treatments included; (i) a full N dose “recommended for wheat crops in the region” (104 kg N ha−1) as a positive control; (ii) a half N dose (52 kg N ha−1); (iii) a half N dose + biofertilizer (4.94 kg ha−1) as a soil mixture; (iv) a half N dose + biofertilizer as a seed inoculation; (v) a full N dose as broadcast + biochar (5 t ha−1) inoculated with biofertilizer; and (vi) a full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture. The half dose N application or biofertilizer addition as soil mix/seed inoculated/biochar inoculation with biofertilizer caused reduced wheat growth and yield compared to the control (conventional N fertilization). However, co-application of chemically enhanced biochar (loaded with a full N dose) and biofertilizer as soil mixture significantly increased the crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI). A significantly higher crop growth and canopy development led to a higher light interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE) for total dry matter (TDM) and grain yield (11% greater than control) production compared to the control. A greater grain yield, observed for the full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture, is attributed to prolonged N availability as indicated by greater plant and soil N content at harvest and different crop growth stages, respectively. The present study has improved our understanding of how the application of nitrogen loaded biochar and biofertilizer as soil mixtures can synergize to positively affect wheat growth and soil-nitrogen retention under arid environmental conditions.

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas ◽  
S Fukai

Two barley cultivars (early-maturing Corvette and late-maturing Triumph) and one cultivar of chickpea (Amethyst at Redland Bay and Borwen at Hermitage), were grown in well-watered and water stress trials in three experiments to determine how the effect of water stress on growth and yield of these crops was modified by other environmental conditions, particularly temperature. Two experiments (experiments 1 and 2) were conducted at one location (Redland Bay) with two times of sowing (April and July), while experiment 3 (June sowing) was conducted at Hermitage Research Station, which had much lower temperatures in winter. In water stress trials, rainout shelters were used to exclude rain from plots from crop establishment to approximately maturity. In both well-watered and water stress conditions, the barley crop produced a lower yield when sown in April than in mid-winter, as grain filling occurred in late winter/early spring, when radiation and temperature were low. Chickpea in the irrigated control, however, produced the lowest yield in the July sowing at Redland Bay, because of the rapid increase in temperature in spring which hastened maturity. In water stress trials chickpea produced the lowest yield at Hermitage, as water stress severely reduced crop growth after flowering. Early-maturing Corvette produced a higher grain yield than late-maturing Triumph in one water stress trial (experiment 1), when difference in maturity time was 40 days, but not in others when the difference in maturity was less than 15 days. In most crops, development of water stress was slow during early stages of growth, and severe stress developed after maximum light interception was achieved. In these cases, water stress had a small effect on light interception but a large effect on light use efficiency (total dry matter produced per unit of solar radiation intercepted). However, for the chickpea sown in April, water stress developed during leaf area expansion, and severely reduced light interception with little adverse effect on light use efficiency. The results thus suggest that whether water stress affects light interception or light use efficiency depends on the timing of water stress in relation to the canopy development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Adigun ◽  
A. O. Osipitan ◽  
Segun Toyosi Lagoke ◽  
Raphael Olusegun Adeyemi ◽  
Stephen Olaoluwa Afolami

Weed problem appears to be the most deleterious factor causing between 25 and 60% reduction in potential yield of cowpea. Field trials were therefore conducted to study the effect of inter-row spacing and period of weed interference on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (07° 15'; 03° 25' E) in South Western Nigeria during the early and late wet seasons of 2009. The experiment consisted of eight main plots of weed interference which included initial weed removal for 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently weed –infested until harvest as well as initial weed infestation for corresponding periods and thereafter kept weed free until harvest. There were also sub-plot treatments of three inter-row spacing of 60, 75, and 90 cm. All treatments in different combinations were laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. In both trials, the use of inter-row spacing of 60 cm resulted in significant reduction in weed growth as evident in lower weed dry matter production and subsequent higher cowpea pod and grain yields than those of 75 and 90 cm inter-row spacing. Initial weed infestation of up to 3 WAS did not have any adverse effect on crop growth and cowpea grain yields provided the weeds were subsequently removed. On the other hand, cowpea grain yield loss was not significantly averted by keeping the crop weed free for only 3 WAS without subsequent weed removal. In this study, initial weed-infestation for 6 WAS and beyond significantly depressed various crop growth parameter and cowpea grain yield compared with the crop kept weed free throughout its life cycle. In order to obtain optimum yields similar to that of the weed free cowpea field, it was required to keep the crop weed free for 6 WAS and beyond. However, frequent weeding beyond 9 weeks after sowing did not improve cowpea yield significantly and as a matter of fact it may even result in reduction of cowpea grain yield due to mechanical damage of hoe weeding. The practical implication of this finding is that early weeding starting from 3 WAS is very crucial for cowpea production while the critical period of weed removal for optimum yield in cowpea is between 3 and 9 WAS in the forest-savannah transitional zone of south Western Nigeria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaojun Zhang ◽  
Jiaqi Ding ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
Lei Su ◽  
Cancan Zhao

Abstract Background: Environmental stress is a crucial factor restricting plant growth as well as crop productivity, thus influencing the agricultural sustainability. Biochar addition is proposed as an effective management to improve crop performance. However, there were few studies focused on the effect of biochar addition on crop growth and productivity under interactive effect of abiotic stress (e.g., drought and salinity). This study was conducted with a pot experiment to investigate the interaction effects of drought and salinity stress on soybean yield, leaf gaseous exchange and water use efficiency (WUE) under biochar addition. Results: Drought and salinity stress significantly depressed soybean phenology (e.g. flowering time) and all the leaf gas exchange parameters, but had inconsistent effects on soybean root growth and WUE at leaf and yield levels. Salinity stress significantly decreased photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate by 20.7%, 26.3%, 10.5% and 27.2%, respectively. Lower biomass production and grain yield were probably due to the restrained photosynthesis under drought and salinity stress. Biochar addition significantly enhanced soybean grain yield by 3.1-14.8%. Drought stress and biochar addition significantly increased WUE-yield by 27.5% and 15.6%, respectively, while salinity stress significantly decreased WUE-yield by 24.2%. Drought and salinity stress showed some negative interactions on soybean productivity and leaf gaseous exchange. But biochar addition alleviate the negative effects on soybean productivity and water use efficiency under drought and salinity stress. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that drought and salinity stress could significantly depress soybean growth and productivity. There exist interactive effects of drought and salinity stress on soybean productivity and water use efficiency, while we could employ biochar to alleviate the negative effects. We should consider the interactive effects of different abiotic restriction factors on crop growth thus for sustainable agriculture in the future.


Author(s):  
Ahmad Raza ◽  
Muhammad Nawaz ◽  
Muhammad U. Chattha ◽  
Imran Khan ◽  
Muhammad B. Chattha ◽  
...  

Weeds are major threat to global wheat production and cause serious threat to food security. Likewise, water scarcity is also a major threat to food production and its intensity is continuously soaring up across the globe. Organic mulches have potential to reduce weeds growth and conserve the soil moisture thus ensures the better crop growth and yield. Therefore, present study was conducted to compare the performance of different organic mulches in improving wheat growth and productivity. The study was comprised of different organic mulches; M1= No mulch (control) M2= maize straw mulch, M3= wheat straw mulch, M4= sorghum straw mulch and M5= rice straw mulch and three nitrogen levels N1 = 90 kg, N2 = 120 kg and N3= 150 kg/ha. The results indicated that both organic mulches and N rates had significant impact on growth, and yield traits. The maximum leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), productive tillers (307 m-2), grains/spike (46.22), 1000 grain weight (42.33 g) biological yield (13.76 t/ha) and grain yield 4.75 t/ha was obtained with sorghum straw mulch and minimum productive tillers (255.33 m-2), grains/spike (36.22), biological yield (11.46 t/ha) and grain yield (3.59 t/ha) was recorded in no mulch (control). Among nitrogen levels maximum productive tillers (290.6 m-2), grains/spike (42.80), 1000 grain weight (40.65 g), biological yield (13.44 t/ha) and grain yield (4.32 t/ha) was obtained with 150 kg/ha N and minimum productive tillers (274 m-2), grains/spike (38.13), 1000 grain weight (36.94 g) biological yield (11.98 t/ha) and grain yield (3.90 t/ha) was obtained with 90 N kg/ha. Thus, farmers can use sorghum straw mulch and N (150 kg ha-1) to improve the wheat productivity. However, farmers must be educated by government institute and adoptive research farms in order to understand and adaption of this approach.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladapo Adeyemi ◽  
Reza Keshavarz-Afshar ◽  
Emad Jahanzad ◽  
Martin Leonardo Battaglia ◽  
Yuan Luo ◽  
...  

Corn (Zea mays L.) grain is a major commodity crop in Illinois and its production largely relies on timely application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Currently, growers in Illinois and other neighboring states in the U.S. Midwest use the maximum return to N (MRTN) decision support system to predict corn N requirements. However, the current tool does not factor in implications of integrating cover crops into the rotation, which has recently gained attention among growers due to several ecosystem services associated with cover cropping. A two-year field trail was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application affects nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of corn with and without a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements and four replicates was used. Main plots were cover crop treatments (no cover crop (control) compared to a wheat cover crop) and subplots were N timing applications to the corn: (1) 168 kg N ha−1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha−1 at planting + 112 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha−1 at planting + 56 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; and (4) 168 kg N ha−1 at sidedress along with a zero-N control as check plot. Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. In 2018, grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control, indicating a yield penalty when corn was preceded with a wheat cover crop. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no yield differences among N treatments and N balances were near zero. In 2019, delaying the N application improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses which was confirmed by lower N balances in sidedressed treatments. Overall, our findings suggest including N credit for cereals in MRTN prediction model could help with improved N management in the Midwestern United States.


2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Imdad Ali Mahmood ◽  
Arshad Ali ◽  
Armghan Shahzad ◽  
Tariq Sultan

A two years field study according to split plot design was conducted to investigate the impactof crop residue (CR) incorporation and P application (0, 40, 80, 120 kg P2O5/ha) on P use efficiency andyield of direct seeded rice (DSR) and wheat grown under saline soil (ECe = 4.59 dS/m; pHs = 8.38;SAR = 6.57 (mmolc/L)1/2; extractable P = 4.07 mg/kg; texture = sandy clay loam), during the years 2011and 2012. Planting of DSR (with and without crop residue incorporation @ 2 tonnes/ha) were placed inmain plots and P application was in sub plots. Data on tillering, plant height, panicle length, 1000 grainweight, paddy and straw yields were collected. On an average of two years, maximum tillers (18), paniclelength (33), grain/panicle (121) and paddy yield (3.26 t/ha) were produced with P application @ 80 kgP2O5/ha along with CR incorporation. Similarly in case of wheat grown after DSR, maximum tillers (17),spike length (17), grains/panicle (66) and grain yield (3.56 t/ha) were produced with P application @ 80 kgP2O5/ha along with CR incorporation. Although, the growth and yield contributing parameters with thistreatment (80 kg P2O5/ha + CR) performed statistically equal to 120 kg P2O5/ha without CR incorporationduring both the years, but on an average of two years, grain yield of DSR and wheat was significantlysuperior (22 and 24%, respectively) than that of higher P rate (120 kg/ha) without CR. Overall, continuoustwo years CR incorporation further increased (17%) paddy yields during the follow up year of crop harvest.Higher P use efficiency and concentrations of P, K+ and Ca2+ in both DSR and wheat plant tissues wasfound where 80 kg P2O5/ha was applied along with CR incorporation or 120 kg P2O5/ha alone while Na+and Mg2+ concentration decreased with CR incorporation and increasing P rate. An increasing trend inDSR paddy and wheat grain yields was observed with increasing the rate of P application without CRincorporation, however, it was not as much as that of 80 kg P2O5/ha application with CR incorporationand found to be superior than rest of the treatments during both study years.


Agromet ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Gusti Rusmayadi ◽  
. Handoko ◽  
Yonny Koesmaryono ◽  
Didiek Hadjar Goenadi

Plant growth interpretation in term of accumulated intercepted solar radiation and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) was used to study the growth and analysis of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.). A number of crop growth simulation models have been developed using the RUE concept to predict crop growth and yield in various environments. These models generally calculate daily biomass production as the product of the quantity of radiation intercepted and RUE. This research was carried out to quantify the RUE, biomass and leaf area index on Jatropha under rainfall condition, four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N) and three population densities (P) planted twice. The experiments used a systematic Nelder fan design with 9 spokes and 4 – 5 rings were conducted at SEAMEO-BIOTROP field experiment in 2007. Data from the first experiment were used for parameterization and calibration and the second experiment data for model validation. Values of RUE were determined by nitrogen fertilizer and plant density. Based on parameterization, we found that RUE for prediction above ground biomass accumulation of Jatropha were 0.94 (r=0.83) g MJ-1 to 1.3 (r=0.75) g MJ-1. Validation between model prediction and field experimental data showed that model can simulate crop growth and development of Jatropha.


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Li ◽  
Shi-Qing Li ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Xiao-Li Chen

The effects of elevated atmospheric NH<sub>3</sub> on growth and yield parameters of two winter wheat varieties, the high water and fertilizer-demanding variety Xiaoyan 6 (XY6) and the drought-resistant variety Changhan 58 (CH58), grown with two levels of N fertilization, were studied in Open-Top Chambers. The results showed that in combination with the high N treatment increasing the atmospheric NH<sub>3</sub> concentration to 1000 nl/l from the ambient level of 10 nl/l NH<sub>3</sub> significantly (<I>P</I> < 0.05) reduced the biomass and the root/shoot ratios of the plants, especially in XY6 plants, mainly because it negatively influenced root biomass production at anthesis and mature stages. In addition, the grain yield of XY6 was by 1.51% higher, while that of CH58 was 13.2% lower, following exposure to the elevated atmospheric NH<sub>3</sub> concentration rather than the ambient concentration in combination with the high N treatment. In contrast, in combination with the low N treatment, elevated atmospheric NH<sub>3</sub> had significantly and non-significantly positive effects on the grain yield of XY6 and CH58 plants, respectively. The Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and related parameters were all lower in plants of both varieties exposed to the high atmospheric NH3 concentration together with either the high or low N treatment.


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