Field-based investigation of aged biochar coupled with summer legumes effect on wheat yield in Pakistan

Abstract

There is a debate about whether the aged biochar effect can increase the crop yield or not. Herein, a field-based experimental data set and analysis provide the information on the aged biochar effect coupled with summer legumes on the yield of subsequent wheat. Briefly, in summer 2016, three different types of legumes i.e. mungbean, sesbania, and cowpea were grown with the intention of grain for human consumption, green manuring for soil fertility improvement, and fodder for livestock consumption. A fallow was also adjusted in the experiment with the purpose of comparison. Biochar was added to each experimental plot in triplicates at the rate of 0, 5, and 10 tons ha-1. After the harvesting of legumes, the biomass of each sesbania treatment plot was mixed in the field while the biomass of mungbean and cowpea were removed from each respective plot. To investigate the aged biochar effect, the wheat crop was grown on the same field layout and design (randomized complete block) of legumes. The data analysis highlighted that significantly maximum grain yield (kg ha-1), biological yield (kg ha-1); thousand-grain weight (g), and straw yield (kg ha-1) were obtained in the plots mixed with sesbania. Regarding the aged biochar effect, maximum yield was obtained in the plots with 10 tons ha-1treatment dose. Additionally, the interaction of aged biochar coupled with legumes was non-significant. In conclusion, this work could prove that aged biochar coupled with summer legumes enhanced the yield of subsequent wheat on a sustainable basis due to its long-term numerous benefits to the soil-plant system.

Research Trend of Aging Biochar for Agro-environmental Applications: a Bibliometric Data Analysis and Visualization of the Last Decade (2011–2023)

“…In the fast growth stage, aged biochar research garnered remarkable attention and was extensively studied for various applications, including (1) the remediation of pollutants in soil and constructed wetlands (Khan et al, 2023), such as mercury (Zhang et al, 2019), aluminum, (Lin et al, 2018), cadmium (Jing et al, 2018), zinc (Kumar et al, 2018), copper (Gonzaga et al, 2020), lead (Raeisi et al, 2020), and herbicides (Gámiz et al, 2019b), (2) mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions such as nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane (Liao et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2019), (3) improved microbial and enzyme activities in soil (Yadav et al, 2019) and enhanced soil organic carbon content (Quan et al, 2020), and (4) nutrients availability and uptake by plants (Karimi et al, 2020) and ultimately, plant growth (Haider et al, 2015;Rahim et al, 2020). Wang et al (2024) conducted a pot experiment to explore the effects of fresh biochar (FBC) and freeze-thaw cycled aged biochar (FTC-BC) on di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-contaminated soils.…”

Weed infestation and productivity of wheat crop sown in various cropping systems under conventional and conservation tillage

“…Mungbean-wheat cropping system recorded higher values for yield and related traits, and grain protein content while sorghumwheat and fallow-wheat cropping systems recorded the lowest values of these traits at all locations (Tables 5, 6). Rahim et al (2020) reported that inclusion of restorative crops (legumes, i.e., pulses, peas, and beans) in cropping systems can improve soil fertility. The presence of mungbean in the mungbean-wheat cropping systems of the current study improved soil physical condition (Table 3) and nutrient availability (Table 4).…”

Developing alternatives to hydrocarbon via pyrolysis and gasification of industry residual biomass

“…Residual char from thermochemical processes (especially gasification) of lignocellulosic biomass, which contains ashes from original raw material and a carbonaceous residue forming a single solid material, can also be used for new applications, replacing little commercial materials which are not so environmentally friendly. Examples include using it as absorbent for metals in aqueous solutions [105] . Char from pyrolysis and gasification of RH is under study by the authors of this research paper as RH has a significant content of SiO2.…”