Abstract
Biochar is a nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture but its potential adoption in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa is still minimal. In this study, we evaluated the agronomic potential of maize stover biochar in cowpea-maize sequential cropping in Uganda under field conditions. The treatments included; the common farmer practice of no inorganic fertilizer and no biochar (CTR), inorganic fertilizer (F), 10 t ha−1 biochar (B10), 40 t ha−1 biochar (B40), 10 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB10), and 40 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB40), arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that cowpea seed yield was not significantly affected by biochar and fertilizer application but the haulm yield was significantly improved only in FB40 treatment. Maize grain and stover yield was significantly improved only in the FB40 treatment but biochar showed a high potential to also improve yield even without inorganic fertilizer. The potential for biochar to improve maize yield either in the presence or absence of fertilizers could be attributed to the residual soil fertility from cowpeas. In both seasons, biochar significantly improved soil pH, EC, SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, irrespective of fertilizer application. However, exchangeable Mg did not significantly vary among the treatments. This study further revealed that in cowpea-maize rotation, optimum yield could also be possible with sole biochar application. Therefore, instead of burning the maize stovers after harvest, farmers should convert the residues into biochar and return it to the soil so as to achieve sustainable food systems.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar and fertilizer did not significantly affect cowpea seed yield.
- Taxon
- cowpea
Vigna unguiculatae0 - Treatment
- biochar and fertilizer applicatione0
- Outcome
- seed yielde0
- Direction
- not significantly affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cowpea seed yield was not significantly affected by biochar and fertilizer application”
Claim · model-written summary
FB40 significantly improved cowpea haulm yield.
- Taxon
- cowpeaVigna unguiculatat0
- Treatment
- FB40 treatmente0
- Outcome
- haulm yielde0
- Direction
- improvede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the haulm yield was significantly improved only in FB40 treatment”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
Claim · model-written summary
FB40 significantly improved maize grain and stover yield.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize grain and stover yield was significantly improved only in the FB40 treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar had potential to improve maize yield without inorganic fertilizer.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biochar showed a high potential to also improve yield even without inorganic fertilizer”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar improved soil pH, EC and SOC in both seasons.
- Treatment
- biochare0
- Outcome
- soil pH, EC, SOCe0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- irrespective of fertilizer applicatione0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In both seasons, biochar significantly improved soil pH, EC, SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, irrespective of fertilizer application”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar improved soil total N, available P, and exchangeable K and Ca.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biochar significantly improved soil pH, EC, SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, irrespective of fertilizer application”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Exchangeable Mg did not significantly vary among treatments.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“exchangeable Mg did not significantly vary among the treatments”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Sole biochar may achieve optimum yield in cowpea-maize rotation.
Verbatim
e0“in cowpea-maize rotation, optimum yield could also be possible with sole biochar application”
Claim · model-written summary
Farmers should convert maize stovers to biochar and return them to soil.
- Outcome
- convert the residues into biochar and return it to the soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“farmers should convert the residues into biochar and return it to the soil”
t0“cowpea–maize sequential cropping”
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