Abstract
Biochar amendment improves crop yield and mitigates climate change, but the lasting effect of biochar application on crop and soil properties under water scarcity conditions in tropical soils remains unexplored. We examined how a one-time biochar application alone and co-applied with vermicompost, with application rates of 25 and 50 ton ha−1, affected the growth of Zea mays L. and the related physicochemical and hydraulic properties of a clay soil after three years. Analyses included pH, electrical conductivity, the availability of cations and phosphorous, carbon to nitrogen ratio, soil water characteristics, crop growth and biomass. The results showed that 50 ton ha−1 of biochar co-applied with vermicompost produced more beneficial effects on the maize crop than 25 ton ha−1 biochar, in the first cycle and to a lesser extent in the third cropping season, caused mainly by the availability of phosphorous and potassium, and the enhancement of bulk density, porosity, and moisture retention. Our results suggest that a one-time application of biochar combined with vermicompost enhances maize growth under limited water conditions. However, further research is necessary to understand the long-term effect of biochar on the soil structure of clay soils, crucial for effectively managing crops in water-scarce conditions.
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Claims 3
Claim · model-written summary
Co-applying 50 ton ha−1 biochar with vermicompost benefited maize more than 25 ton ha−1, especially in the first cycle.
- Treatment
- 50 ton ha−1 of biochar co-applied with vermicomposte0
- Outcome
- beneficial effects on the maize crope0
- Direction
- more beneficiale0
- Qualifier
- in the first cycle and to a lesser extent in the third cropping seasone0
- Comparator
- 25 ton ha−1 biochare0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“50 ton ha−1 of biochar co-applied with vermicompost produced more beneficial effects on the maize crop than 25 ton ha−1 biochar, in the first cycle and to a lesser extent in the third cropping season”
Claim · model-written summary
The beneficial response was attributed to phosphorus and potassium availability and soil physical properties.
- Outcome
- enhancement of bulk density, porosity, and moisture retentione0
- Qualifier
- availability of phosphorous and potassiume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“caused mainly by the availability of phosphorous and potassium, and the enhancement of bulk density, porosity, and moisture retention”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors concluded that one biochar and vermicompost application enhances maize growth under limited water.
- Treatment
- a one-time application of biochar combined with vermicomposte0
- Outcome
- enhances maize growth under limited water conditionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a one-time application of biochar combined with vermicompost enhances maize growth under limited water conditions”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · organism · Zea mays (maize)Results differ
136 papers in the same direction as this paper · 20 in the opposite direction · 5 reporting no difference from an alternative
- negative
- no effect
- no effect
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See all 162 papers →biochar · organism · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
13 papers in the same direction as this paper · 1 in the opposite direction · 2 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- no effect
- no effect
13 papers more in this group
See all 17 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.