Growth, yield and grain nutrients response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to biochar,lime and farmyard manure amendment of the croplands in southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Soil fertility decline in agricultural land is due to intensive cropping system, shortening of the fallow period, reduced manure application, extensive use of crop residues as fuel or fodder and removal of ground cover. This study investigated the effect of biochar (BC), lime and farmyard manure (FYM) on growth, yield and grain nutrient of wheat on croplands at two sites in the southern Ethiopia.Result: Site significantly (P<0.05) influenced most growth parameters, yield and yield components, and grain nutrient concentration of wheat. The effects of BC, lime, and FYM were significant (p ≤ 0.001) on straw yield, grain yield, and total biomass. However, BC (5 t ha -1 ) produced the highest straw yield, grain yield and total biomass. The effects of BC, FYM and lime were significant (P < 0.001) on spike length and seed per spike. Similarly, BC and lime significantly (P < 0.001) affected plant height, number of total and productive tillers. BC (5 t ha -1 ) gave the highest plant height, total tillers and productive tillers, maximum number of seeds per spike,while FYM (10 t ha -1 ) produced the highest spike length. Biochar, FYM and lime significantly (p ≤0.001) affected thousand seed weight, but only BC had significant(p ≤0.001) effect on harvest index. Biochar (5 t ha -1 )and FYM (10 t ha -1 )produced the highest heaver thousand seed weight and the highest harvest index. Biochar significantly (P < 0.05) increased the concentrations of P and K of wheat grain. On the other hand, the highest effect on grain Ca concentration was from the application of lime while the highest effect on grain N concentration was from the application FYM (10 t ha -1 ).Conclusion: The superior effect from BC was attributed to improvements in soil pH, CEC, nutrient availability and water retention. In general, the use of BC could be better option to soil amendment for wheat production on croplands of smallholder farmers.