Influence of Integrated Soil fertility Management on the Vegetative Growth Parameters of Zea mays in the Guinea Savanna Eco-Zone of Ghana

Ammal Abukari

Ammal Abukari University for Development Studies

Sažetak

^{All over the world attention has been drawn to the use of eco-friendly biochar application to improve on crop productivity. In Ghana, there are available potential feedstocks left unused and can be used for the production of biochar. Therefore this study investigated the effect of different rates of rice husk biochar and different rates of inorganic nitrogen (N) for optimum growth of Zea mays in Nyankpala, Northern Ghana. Field experiments were conducted in the cropping period of 2012. The treatments involved 4 different rate of application of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0 kg N/ha, 30N/ha, 60 kg N/ha and 90 kg N/ha) and different rates of rice husk biochar (0t/ha, 2t/ha and 4t/ha). The treatments were allocated in a split plot design with three replications. The vegetative parameters assessed were number of leaves, plant height and plant girth. Treatments showed significant (p<0.05) influence on all the traits considered. The combined effects of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and rice husk biochar significantly influenced the vegetative growth parameters of Zea mays with the maximum values recorded at 4ton/ha rice husk biochar. Yet, this observation in performance is in par with 2ton/ha rice husk biochar which recorded optimum growth parameters compared to the control. It was concluded within the limit of this work that growth parameters of Zea mays in the guinea savanna eco-zone of Ghana could significantly be improved by applying of 4ton/ha rice husk biochar. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM), a prudent combination of inorganic fertilizers and residues from various sources to sustain the environment is currently a necessity. The experiment revealed that application of rice husk biochar can improve the growth parameters of Zea mays. Yet, further experiments need to be done using higher rates of rice husk biochar to ensure the appropriate rate of biochar application.}

Reference

Ali, K., Arif, M., Shah, F., Shehzad, A., Munsif, F., Mian, I.A. and Mian, A.A. (2017). Improvement in maize (Zea mays L) growth and quality through integrated use of biochar. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 49(1), 85-94.

Dume, B., Berecha, G. and Tulu, S. (2015). Characterization of biochar produced at different temperatures and its effect on acidic Nitosol of Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Soil Science, 10(2), 63-73

Gul, S., Whalen, J.K., Thomas, B.W., Sac hdeva, V. and Deng, H. (2015). Physico-chemical properties and microbial responses in biochar-amended soils: Mechanisms and future directions. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment, 206, 46-59

Jindo, K., Mizumoto, H., Sawada, Y., Monedero, M.A.S. and Sonoki, T. (2014). Physical and chemical characterization of biochars derived from different agricultural residues. Biogeosciences, 11, 6613-6621

Munongo, M.E., Nkeng, G.E. and Njukeng, J.N. (2017). Production and characterization of compost manure and biochar from cocoa pod husks. International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research, 2(2), 26-31

Prabha, B., Pugalendhi, S. and Subramanian, P. (2015). Design and development of semi-indirect non-electric pyrolytic reactor for biochar production from farm waste. Indian Journal of Agriculture Science, 85(4), 85-591

Ragasa, C., Chapoto, A. and Kolavalli, S. (2014). Maize productivity in Ghana (Vol. 5). International Food Policy Research Institute.

SARI (2016). Savanna Agricultural Research Institute. Agro-meteorological Unit Nyankpala Tamale Ghana. 27

Sohi, S., Krull, E., Capel, E.L. and Bol, R. (2010). A review of biochar and its use and function in soil. Advances in Agronomy, 105(1), 47-82

Sheahan, M. and Barrett, C.B. (2014). Understanding the agricultural input landscape in sub-Saharan Africa: Recent plot, household, and community-level evidence. The World Bank.

Vanlauwe, B., Descheemaeker, K., Giller, K.E., Huising, J., Merckx, R., Nziguheba, G. and Zingore, S. (2015). Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: unravelling local adaptation. Soil, 1(1), 491-50

Varela, M., Rivera, O., Huang, O.E.B., Chien, W.J. and Wang, Y.M. (2013). Agronomic properties and characterization of rice husk and wood biochars and their effect on the growth of water spinach in a field test. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 13(2), 51-266.

Venkatesh, G., Srinivasa, R.C.H., Gopinath, K.A. and Sammi, R.K. (2015) Low-cost portable kiln for biochar production from on-farm crop residue. Indian farming, 64(12), 9-12

Xu, T., Lou, L., Cao, R., Duan, D. and Chen, Y. (2012). Effect of bamboo biochar on pentachlorophenol leachability and bioavailability in agricultural soil. Science of the Total Environment, 414, 727-731

Yu, L., Jie, J.Y., Rong, Z.X., Tong, L.G., Xin, Z.L., Bo, M.H. (2014): Improvement to maize growth caused by biochars derived from six feed stocks prepared at three different temperatures. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(3), 533-540.
Zoghi, Z., Hosseini, S.M., Kouchaksaraei, M.T., Kooch, Y. and Guidi, L. (2019). The effect of biochar amendment on the growth, morphology and physiology of Quercus castaneifolia seedlings under water-deficit stress. European Journal of Forest Research, 1-13.