2026-09-25T13:47:28Zhttps://univendspace.univen.ac.za/server/oai/requestoai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:11602/15552024-09-10T14:39:47Zcom_11602_1919com_11602_1913com_11602_1897com_11602_737col_11602_2208col_11602_738
Odhiambo, J. J. O.
Mzezewa, J.
Mahlo, Lewele Alfred
2020
2020-09-29T20:35:14Z
2020-09-29T20:35:14Z
2020-06-23
Mahlo. Lewele Alfred (2020) The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels. University of Venda, South Africa.<http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555>.
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555
Mahlo LA. The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels. []. , 2020 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555
Mahlo, L. A. (2020). <i>The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels</i>. (). . Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555
Mahlo, Lewele Alfred. <i>"The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels."</i> ., , 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555
TY - Dissertation
AU - Mahlo, Lewele Alfred
AB - In most parts of Limpopo Province of South Africa, crop yields are low and continue to decrease due to decline in soil fertility, which has been identified as a major constraint to crop production. Therefore, there is a pressing need for soil amendments such as the application of biochar, which has the potential to improve soil fertility due to its physical and chemical properties. Biochar is the product of incomplete combustion of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The overall objective of the study was to determine the effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels. A 3x2 factorial experiment was conducted at the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm for two consecutive seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons). Treatments consisted of biochar applied at three levels, viz. 0, 10 and 20 t/ha and NPK inorganic fertilizer applied at two rates viz. NPK0 (zero NPK fertilizer) and NPK1 {N (150 kg/ha) P (50 kg/ha) K (20 kg/ha)}. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Maize cultivar (DKC 2147) was used as the test crop. Maize growth and yield measurements assessed included: plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), number of leaves, leaf area, dry biomass (kg/ha), nutrient uptake, cob yield, grain yield and harvest index. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depths at the end of each season to determine total N, P, K nutrient levels in the soil. Data collected was subjected to two-way analysis of variance using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of Genstat software version 17. Comparison of means was done using the Standard Error of Deviation (SED) method at 5% level of significance (p<0.05). Biochar and NPK fertilizer had no effect on total N and exchangeable K at all soil depths in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. Biochar had no effect on phosphorus at all soil depths in 2015/16 and at 0-10 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. The effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer was highly significant (p<0,001) on available P at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. Significant interactive effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer on soil total N at 10-20 cm (in 2015/16 season), available P and exchangeable K at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season was also observed. Plant growth parameters increased with biochar addition at 20 t/ha and NPK1 (150 kg N/ha, 50 kg P/ha, 20 kg K/ha) fertilizer. The results of this study showed that biochar application at the rate of 10 and 20 t/ha has the potential to influence selected soil nutrient levels, maize growth, yield and yield components with and without NPK fertilizer application. Since this study was conducted over two seasons and biochar properties changes over a long-term period, more research is needed to evaluate the effect of biochar on soil nutrient levels and maize growth, nutrient uptake and yield over a long period of time.
DA - 2020-06-23
DB - ResearchSpace
DP - Univen
KW - Biochar
KW - Inorganic fertilizer
KW - Maize
KW - NPK fertilizer
KW - Nutrients
KW - Soil fertility
LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za
PY - 2020
T1 - The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels
TI - The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11602/1555
ER -
MSCAGR (Soil Sciece)
Department of Soil Science
In most parts of Limpopo Province of South Africa, crop yields are low and continue to decrease due to decline in soil fertility, which has been identified as a major constraint to crop production. Therefore, there is a pressing need for soil amendments such as the application of biochar, which has the potential to improve soil fertility due to its physical and chemical properties. Biochar is the product of incomplete combustion of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The overall objective of the study was to determine the effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels. A 3x2 factorial experiment was conducted at the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm for two consecutive seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons). Treatments consisted of biochar applied at three levels, viz. 0, 10 and 20 t/ha and NPK inorganic fertilizer applied at two rates viz. NPK0 (zero NPK fertilizer) and NPK1 {N (150 kg/ha) P (50 kg/ha) K (20 kg/ha)}. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Maize cultivar (DKC 2147) was used as the test crop. Maize growth and yield measurements assessed included: plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), number of leaves, leaf area, dry biomass (kg/ha), nutrient uptake, cob yield, grain yield and harvest index. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depths at the end of each season to determine total N, P, K nutrient levels in the soil. Data collected was subjected to two-way analysis of variance using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of Genstat software version 17. Comparison of means was done using the Standard Error of Deviation (SED) method at 5% level of significance (p<0.05). Biochar and NPK fertilizer had no effect on total N and exchangeable K at all soil depths in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. Biochar had no effect on phosphorus at all soil depths in 2015/16 and at 0-10 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. The effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer was highly significant (p<0,001) on available P at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season. Significant interactive effect of biochar and NPK fertilizer on soil total N at 10-20 cm (in 2015/16 season), available P and exchangeable K at 10-20 cm soil depth in 2016/17 season was also observed. Plant growth parameters increased with biochar addition at 20 t/ha and NPK1 (150 kg N/ha, 50 kg P/ha, 20 kg K/ha) fertilizer. The results of this study showed that biochar application at the rate of 10 and 20 t/ha has the potential to influence selected soil nutrient levels, maize growth, yield and yield components with and without NPK fertilizer application. Since this study was conducted over two seasons and biochar properties changes over a long-term period, more research is needed to evaluate the effect of biochar on soil nutrient levels and maize growth, nutrient uptake and yield over a long period of time.
NRF
1 online resource (xi, 80 leaves : color illustrations)
en
Biochar
Inorganic fertilizer
UCTD
Maize
NPK fertilizer
Nutrients
Soil fertility
631.860968257
Biofertilizers -- South Africa -- Limpopo
Organic fertilizers -- South Africa -- Limpopo
Soil fertility -- South Africa -- Limpopo
Corn -- Fertilizers
Corn -- South Africa -- Limpopo
The effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on maize performance and selected soil nutrient levels
Dissertation
open.access