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Rice straw biochar improves soil fertility, growth, and yield of rice–wheat system on a sandy loam soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2019

R. K. Gupta Open the ORCID record for R. K. Gupta [Opens in a new window] ,
Ashaq Hussain ,
Yadvinder-Singh ,
S. S. Sooch ,
J. S. Kang ,
Sandeep Sharma  and
G. S. Dheri
R. K. Gupta*
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
Ashaq Hussain
Affiliation:
Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Khudwani, Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir 192 102, India
Yadvinder-Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
S. S. Sooch
Affiliation:
Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
J. S. Kang
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
Sandeep Sharma
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
G. S. Dheri
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
*
*Corresponding author. Email: rkg1103@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Biochar has received attention due to its potential for mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration in soil and improving soil quality and crop productivity. This study evaluated the effects of rice straw biochar (RSB) and rice husk ash (RHA) each applied at 5 Mg ha−1 and four N levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha−1) on soil fertility, growth, and yield of rice and wheat for three consecutive rice–wheat rotations. RSB significantly increased electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, and P and K contents when compared to control (no amendment) up to 7.5 cm soil depth. Both RSB and RHA did not influence shoot N concentration in wheat plant but significantly increased P and K concentrations at 60 days after sowing. Grain yields of both rice and wheat were significantly higher in RSB as compared to control (no amendment) and RHA treatments. While the highest grain yields of rice and wheat were observed at 120 kg N ha−1 in RHA and no biochar-treated plots, a significant increase in grain yields was observed at 80 kg N ha−1 in RSB treatment, thereby saving 40 kg N ha−1 in each crop. Both agronomic and recovery N efficiencies in rice and wheat were significantly higher in RSB-amended soil compared to control. Significant positive correlations were observed between soil N, P, and K concentrations and total N, P, and K concentrations in aboveground biomass of wheat at 60 days after sowing. This study showed the potential benefits of applying RSB for improving soil fertility and yields of rice and wheat in a rice–wheat system.

Keywords

BiocharRice husk ashSoil organic carbonNitrogenPhosphorousPotassiumDehydrogenase activity
Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 56 , Issue 1 , February 2020 , pp. 118 - 131
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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