Comparative analysis of the growth, yield attributes and grain yield of kharif maize (Zea mays) under varying doses of biochar, fertility levels, and biofertilizer treatments

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2021 and 2022 at the research farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj Ayodhya, Uttar Pardesh, to evaluate the effect of graded doses of biochar and fertility levels with and without biofertilizer under partially reclaimed sodic soils on maize (Zea mays L.) performance. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) which with 3 replications. Experiment comprised of 8 treatments, viz. T1 , Control; T2 , 100% RDF 100 : 60 : 40 N, P2 O5 and K2 O; T3 , 50% RDF + 2.5 t/ha biochar; T4 , 50% RDF + 2.5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer; T5 , 50% RDF + 2.5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn; T6 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar; T7 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer; T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn. The study’s comparative analysis revealed the positive effects of applying biochar, optimal fertility levels, and biofertilizers on the yield attributes and grain yield of kharif maize. Notably, treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment. These findings demonstrate the successful impact of application of 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn in enhancing various aspects of maize growth and yield, surpassing the outcomes achieved with the control treatment and may be recommended for achieving high-quality maize production in partially reclaimed sodic soils of eastern Uttar Pradesh and comparable agro-ecoregions.

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Claims 6

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

T8 increased maize cob length by 53% versus control.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne1
Outcome: cob lengthe0
Direction: increasee0
Value: 53%e0
Comparator: control treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

*Zea mays* · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0
“treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1054–1307 · show in text ↑

e1
“T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 802–857 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

T8 increased maize cob girth by 34% versus control.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne1
Outcome: cob girthe0
Direction: increasee0
Value: 34%e0
Comparator: control treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1054–1307 · show in text ↑

e1
“T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 802–857 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

T8 increased maize grains per row by 83% versus control.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne1
Outcome: number of grains per rowe0
Direction: increasee0
Value: 83%e0
Comparator: control treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1054–1307 · show in text ↑

e1
“T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 802–857 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

T8 increased maize grain yield by 138.4% versus control.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne1
Outcome: grain yielde0
Direction: increasee0
Value: 138.4%e0
Comparator: control treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1054–1307 · show in text ↑

e1
“T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 802–857 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

T8 increased maize stover yield by 134% versus control.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne1
Outcome: stover yielde0
Direction: increasee0
Value: 134%e0
Comparator: control treatmente0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“treatment T8 showed significant improvements, with a 53% increase in cob length, 34% increase in cob girth, 83% increase in the number of grains per row, 138.4% increase in grain yield, and 134% increase in stover yield compared to the control treatment”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1054–1307 · show in text ↑

e1
“T8 , 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 802–857 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

Recommendationauthor interpretationoriginal resultpositivebasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

Authors recommend T8 for high-quality maize production in partially reclaimed sodic soils of eastern Uttar Pradesh and comparable regions.

Taxon: maizeZea mayst0
Treatment: 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zne0
Outcome: high-quality maize productione0
Setting: eastern Uttar Pradeshe0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim

e0
“application of 100% RDF + 5 t/ha biochar + ZMB Biofertilizer + Zn in enhancing various aspects of maize growth and yield, surpassing the outcomes achieved with the control treatment and may be recommended for achieving high-quality maize production in partially reclaimed sodic soils of eastern Uttar Pradesh and comparable agro-ecoregions”
✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1361–1700 · show in text ↑

t0
“maize (Zea mays)”
✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 79–95 · show in text ↑

zinc atom · growth · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

224 papers: 183 positive, 41 negative or no effect

182 papers in the same direction as this paper · 41 in the opposite direction

no effect
Zinc deficiency did not affect the pool size of plastoquinone molecules in maize leaves.
Photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and lipid peroxidation of maize leaves as affected by zinc deficiency · 2005
Opposite directionAbout lacking this nutrient, so it counts the other way round
no effect
Increasing zinc dose did not further increase maize dry matter.
Mobility and Availability to Plants of Two Zinc Sources Applied to a Calcareous Soil · 2003
Opposite direction
negative
Zinc fertilization decreased total maize dry matter mass.
Effect of P and Zn fertilization on biomass yield and its uptake by maize lines (Zea mays L.) · 2003 · compared with control
Opposite direction

220 papers more in this group

See all 224 papers →

zinc atom · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

441 papers: 391 positive, 50 negative or no effect

390 papers in the same direction as this paper · 47 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Adding Zn to the intermediate Fe level accentuated Fe deficiency and depressed corn yield.
Nutrient Balance Involving Phosphorus, Iron, and Zinc · 1965 · compared with intermediate Fe level
Opposite direction
negative
Corn yield at zero zinc and 3.0 mM phosphorus was significantly lower than at 1.0 mM phosphorus.
Potential for Phosphorus Toxicity in Zinc‐Stressed Corn and Potato · 1981 · compared with 1.0 m M P
Opposite direction
no effect
Most foliar Zn applications had no grain-yield effect.
Effect of Foliar Micronutrients (B, Mn, Fe, Zn) on Maize Grain Yield, Micronutrient Recovery, Uptake, and Partitioning · 2021
Opposite direction

437 papers more in this group

See all 441 papers →

biochar · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

190 papers: 180 positive, 10 negative or no effect

179 papers in the same direction as this paper · 9 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Biochars with abundant free radicals retarded root and shoot growth.
Detecting Free Radicals in Biochars and Determining Their Ability to Inhibit the Germination and Growth of Corn, Wheat and Rice Seedlings · 2014
Opposite direction
negative
Biochar decreased P1921 root growth by 9% at silking.
Wood biochar produces different rates of root growth and transpiration in two maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) under drought stress · 2018
Opposite direction
no effect
BC addition had no significant effect on maize growth.
Potential short-term negative versus positive effects of olive mill-derived biochar on nutrient availability in a calcareous loamy sand soil · 2020
Opposite direction

186 papers more in this group

See all 190 papers →

biochar · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

193 papers: 175 positive, 18 negative or no effect

174 papers in the same direction as this paper · 15 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Without supplementary nitrogen, 72 t ha-1 biochar decreased maize grain yield by 46%.
Biochar application to temperate soils: effects on nutrient uptake and crop yield under field conditions · 2013
Opposite direction
no effect
Biochar did not increase maize biomass production in 2015.
Analysis of soil water content and crop yield after biochar application in field conditions · 2017 · compared with 0 t/ha (control)
Opposite direction
negative
Straw biochar significantly reduced summer maize yield by 8%.
Effects of Organic Amendments on the Improvement of Soil Nutrients and Crop Yield in Sandy Soils during a 4-Year Field Experiment in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, Northern China · 2021
Opposite direction

189 papers more in this group

See all 193 papers →

inoculation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

538 papers: 479 positive, 59 negative or no effect

478 papers in the same direction as this paper · 52 in the opposite direction · 7 reporting no difference from an alternative

no effect
Half NP plus Biopower with BPF or EM gave similar maize yield to full NP.
Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizosphere microflora through organic and biofertilizers · 2007 · compared with full rate of NP fertilizer
Opposite direction
no effect
Inoculation under high nitrogen input produced no additive yield effect.
Maize Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 Cells Enriched with Exopolysaccharides and Polyhydroxybutyrate Results in High Productivity under Low N Fertilizer Input · 2017
Opposite direction
negative
Fungal inoculation lowered grain weight.
Interactions Between Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, and Insect Infestation in Four Maize Genotypes in Lowland Africa · 2000 · compared with the controls
Opposite direction

534 papers more in this group

See all 538 papers →

inoculation · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

699 papers: 635 positive, 64 negative or no effect

634 papers in the same direction as this paper · 61 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative

negative
Half NP plus biofertilizers and compost produced less maize fodder growth than full NPK.
Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizosphere microflora through organic and biofertilizers · 2007 · compared with full dose of NPK fertilizers
Opposite direction
no effect
Inoculated and control roots had similar fresh weight.
AM fungi might affect the root morphology of maize by increasing indole‐3‐butyric acid biosynthesis · 2000 · compared with control roots
Opposite direction
no effect
Seed inoculation did not significantly affect maize growth or P content at three weeks.
Stimulation de la croissance du maïs et de la laitue romaine par des microorganismes dissolvant le phosphore inorganique · 1993
Opposite direction

695 papers more in this group

See all 699 papers →

fertilization · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

1,365 papers: 1,196 positive, 169 negative or no effect

1,195 papers in the same direction as this paper · 149 in the opposite direction · 20 reporting no difference from an alternative

no effect
Foliar fertilization did not improve maize growth under short-term drought or salt stress.
Effect of foliar fertilization application on the growth and mineral nutrient content of maize seedlings under drought and salinity · 2008
Opposite direction
no effect
Starter fertilizer did not increase corn height.
Corn Yield is Equal in Conventional, Reduced, and No Tillage after 20 Years · 1996
Opposite direction
negative
Partial fertilization reduced crop growth rate by 30% during weeks 3 to 5 after midsilking.
EFFECT OF SOURCE-SINK RATIO ON DRY MATTER ACCUMULATION AND LEAF SENESENCE OF MAIZE · 1982
Opposite direction

1,361 papers more in this group

See all 1,365 papers →

fertilization · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

3,908 papers: 3,485 positive, 423 negative or no effect

3,484 papers in the same direction as this paper · 338 in the opposite direction · 85 reporting no difference from an alternative

positive
Yield traits significantly increased as nitrogen rose from 0 to 345 kg ha -1.
Influence of varying nitrogen levels on growth, yield and nitrogen use efficiency of hybrid maize (Zea mays) · 2017
Same directionCited by this paper
negative
If the V8 sufficiency index was below 90%, in-season nitrogen application did not attain maximum yields.
Ability for In‐Season Correction of Nitrogen Deficiency in Corn Using Chlorophyll Meters · 1997
Opposite direction
no effect
N fertilization did not significantly influence belowground NPP of corn.
Nitrogen fertilizer effects on soil carbon balances in Midwestern U.S. agricultural systems · 2009
Opposite direction

3,904 papers more in this group

See all 3,908 papers →

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.

Abstract

Claims 6

The same questions in other papers

zinc atom · growth · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

zinc atom · yield · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

biochar · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

biochar · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

inoculation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

inoculation · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

fertilization · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

fertilization · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results