PJB-2023-75
Evaluation of compost and biochar potential on wheat productivity and phosphorus management under conservation tillage
Abdul Lateef
Abstract
Abstract
Wheat is the staple food of Pakistan. Nutrient imbalance is the main reason for the low yield of wheat crop in Pakistan. The prices of phosphorus (P) fertilizers are very high while phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is very low. Enhancing PUE using different organic amendments will benefit the farmers by decreasing their cost of fertilizer expenditure. Two year field experiment was carried out on wheat to check the P availability by applying biochar @ 0.5 t ha-1, compost @ 1 t ha-1 and recommended phosphorus (RP) was added @ 84 kg ha-1. Biochar and compost were added in the first year during the wheat season 2020-21 while their residual effects were checked in 2nd wheat season 2021-22. Treatments were Control, P @ 100% of RP, P @ 75% of RP, Compost, Biochar, Compost + P @ 75% of RP, Biochar + P @ 75% of RP, Compost + Biochar, and Compost + Biochar + P @ 75% of RP. The experiment was conducted at the research area MNS University of Agriculture Multan with a randomized complete block design (RCBD). All treatments were applied before the sowing of the crop. The combined application of compost + biochar + P @ 75% of RP showed 20.4%, 19.7%, 24.7%, 9.7% and 57.1% more chlorophyll content value, plant height, number of tillers m-2, 1000 grain weight, and total dry matter (TDM), respectively, as compared to control during growing season 2020-21 and 19.7%, 19.4%, 24.2%, 9.9% and 55.4% more chlorophyll content value, plant height, number of tillers m-2, 1000 grain weight, and total dry matter (TDM), respectively, as compared to control during growing season 2021-22. During the study data regarding growth, phenology, physiology, and P uptake were recorded by standard techniques and protocols. Data was analyzed by Fisher’s Analysis of Variance Technique.
Keywords: Organic amendments, Phosphorus use efficiency, Nutrient management
To Cite this article:
Download
