INTEGRATION OF BIOCHAR AND LEGUMES IN SUMMER GAP FOR ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT UNDER CEREAL BASED CROPPING SYSTEM

 

FAZAL JALAL¹, MUHAMMAD ARIF¹, KAWSAR ALI^2*, FAZAL MUNSIF¹,

MUHAMMAD JAMAL KHAN³ AND BUSHRA KHAN⁴

 

¹Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan

²Department of Agriculture, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan

³Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan

 ⁴Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author’s email: kawsar@awkum.edu.pk

 

Abstract

 

Biochar application is gaining popularity in agriculture system as prime technology in sustainable context. Field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Peshawar, during 2011-2013. Wheat-maize-wheat cropping pattern was followed with the adjustment of legumes in summer gap (land available after wheat harvest till maize sowing). Legumes i.e., mungbean, cowpea and Sesbania with a fallow were adjusted in the summer gap with and without biochar application. Biochar was applied at the rate of 0 and 50 t ha^-1 with four N levels of 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha^-1 to subsequent wheat crop. Biohcar application and plots previously sown with legumes improved thousand grain weight of wheat crop. Nitrogen application increased thousand spikes m^-2, grains weight, grain and biological yield. It is concluded that integration of biochar and legumes could be a useful strategy for enhancing the overall farm profitability and productivity of cereal-based systems by providing increased yields from this additional 'summer gap' crop.

 

Key words: Legumes, Biochar, Nitrogen, Yield and cropping system.