Biochar Integration with Legume Crops in Summer Gape Synergizes Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Enhance Maize Yield

Abstract

Besides carbon (C) sequestration, biochar (BC) is recently believed to deliver multiple eco-friendly benefits to the soil for enhancing crop productivity. Use of mineral fertilizers coupled with BC been suggested a promising sustainable strategy for increasing crops yield. However, imperative study is needed to investigate (1) BC integration with multiple legumes crop adjusted in summer gape for pooling more organic carbon and nitrogen, and (2) subsequently looking into its synergism with mineral N in the following crop. Therefore, two years’ field experiments were conducted on maize under cereal based cropping pattern with the adjustment of legumes (i.e., mungbean, cowpea, and Sesbania) with a fallow in summer. In legumes, treatments consist of (0 and 50 t ha−1) BC application. However, N rates of 0, 90, 120, 150 kg ha−1 were added to the subsequent maize crop. Preceding legumes plots with the use of 50 t ha−1 biochar enhanced maize grain yield, above ground biomass, stover N, grain N, soil C, and N content after maize harvest and N use efficiency as compared to non-legumes with BC and legumes without BC plots. N application increased grain yield, above-ground biomass, stover N, grain N, and soil N but reduced N use efficiency with higher rates. Conclusively, the integration of biochar and legumes is a promising option for increasing the entire farm production of cereal-based cropping systems. This increment in yield was associated with supplying a viable input of N and C to soil and increased yields from this supplementary ‘summer gap’ crop.

Effect of Biochar and Inorganic or Organic Fertilizer Co-Application on Soil Properties, Plant Growth and Nutrient Content in Swiss Chard

“…Significant interactions between biochar and N fertilizer on rice grain and straw yield were reported by MacCarthy et al [40] and, similarly, on rainfed rice yield and yield components by Oladele et al [41]. In two-year field experiments, biochar and N applications significantly increased grain yield and the above ground biomass of maize [42]. Nowadays, the combination of biochar with compost is also regarded as a promising approach to improve soil quality and crop growth.…”

Combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer promotes the activity of starch metabolism enzymes and the expression of related genes in rice in a dual cropping system

“…Therefore, one time use of biochar application for long term outputs in sustainable agriculture is economically feasible and can be adopted on a mass scale [ 13 ]. Previously it is documented that biochar combined with N fertilizer increases plant productivity [ 14 ], reduces greenhouse gas emissions [ 15 ], enhances soil physiochemical properties, and promotes the growth of beneficial soil biota [ 8 ]. Biochar is a soil conditioner that promotes soil microbial activity and improves grain quality [ 9 ], improves soil N accessibility and retention, decreases soil bulk density, improves the water-holding capacity of soil, increases the pH and cation exchange capacity, increases the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, and reduces the bioavailability of heavy metals, all of which improve plant photosynthesis [ 16 , 17 ].…”

“…Gong et al [ 7 ] reported that sole biochar promoted SMEs, related genes expression and starch properties in pot experiment. Furthermore, our previous one season pot experiment results showed that biochar plus N fertilizer enhanced SMEs and starch content as compared to sole N applied treatment [ 14 ]. More research is needed under field condition to explore the ability of biochar application combined with inorganic fertilizer to promote the activity of SMEs, increase the expression of related genes, and increase the starch and amylose content of rice.…”

Biochar Role in the Sustainability of Agriculture and Environment

“…The term "sustainable agriculture" is defined as the consolidation of bioprocesses, chemical processes, physical activities, ecological processes, and socio-economic sciences in a holistic manner to design new agricultural practices that are safe and environmentally friendly [6]. Sustainable agriculture is a procedure by which agrofarming can nourish itself over an extended period by preserving and maintaining all its natural resources, e.g., maintaining the fertility of the soil, safeguarding surfaces and underground resources, developing renewable sources of energy, and seeking solutions to revamp farming methods to climate change [7,8]. Agrofarming must also consider the sustainability of the vast area and social groups.…”

“…Biochar is also being examined to rehabilitate environments, to diminish pollutant mobility in contaminated soils, and to reduce alteration of perilous elements to agronomic crops [7]. Mostly, biochar is produced from waste residues such as agricultural wastes, animal manures, and forest residues.…”