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Chemical and Biological Enhancement Effects of Biochar on Wheat Growth and Yield under Arid Field Conditions

Author

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  • Zarmeena Khan

    (Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Habib ur Rahman

    (Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan
    Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany)

  • Ghulam Haider

    (Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan
    Department of Plant Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Rabia Amir

    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Rao Muhammad Ikram

    (Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Shakeel Ahmad

    (Department of Soil Science, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Hannah Kate Schofield

    (Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK)

  • Bilal Riaz

    (Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Rashid Iqbal

    (Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture & Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab 63100, Pakistan)

  • Shah Fahad

    (Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan)

  • Rahul Datta

    (Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic)

  • Alaa Baazeem

    (Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ayman EL Sabagh

    (Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33156, Egypt)

  • Subhan Danish

    (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) losses are prevalent under South East Asia’s due to high N fertilizer inputs, but low N fertilizer use efficiency. This leaves a large quantity of reactive N at risk of loss to the environment. Biochar has been found to reduce N losses across a variety of soil types, however, there is limited data available for semi-arid climates, particularly at a field-scale. Herein we present an exploration of the biological and chemical enhancement effects observed of a cotton stalk-based biochar on wheat growth and yield under arid field conditions. The biochar was treated with urea-N and biofertilizer (bio-power) in different treatment setups. The six experimental treatments included; (i) a full N dose “recommended for wheat crops in the region” (104 kg N ha −1 ) as a positive control; (ii) a half N dose (52 kg N ha −1 ); (iii) a half N dose + biofertilizer (4.94 kg ha −1 ) as a soil mixture; (iv) a half N dose + biofertilizer as a seed inoculation; (v) a full N dose as broadcast + biochar (5 t ha −1 ) inoculated with biofertilizer; and (vi) a full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture. The half dose N application or biofertilizer addition as soil mix/seed inoculated/biochar inoculation with biofertilizer caused reduced wheat growth and yield compared to the control (conventional N fertilization). However, co-application of chemically enhanced biochar (loaded with a full N dose) and biofertilizer as soil mixture significantly increased the crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI). A significantly higher crop growth and canopy development led to a higher light interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE) for total dry matter (TDM) and grain yield (11% greater than control) production compared to the control. A greater grain yield, observed for the full N dose loaded on biochar + biofertilizer applied as a soil mixture, is attributed to prolonged N availability as indicated by greater plant and soil N content at harvest and different crop growth stages, respectively. The present study has improved our understanding of how the application of nitrogen loaded biochar and biofertilizer as soil mixtures can synergize to positively affect wheat growth and soil-nitrogen retention under arid environmental conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zarmeena Khan & Muhammad Habib ur Rahman & Ghulam Haider & Rabia Amir & Rao Muhammad Ikram & Shakeel Ahmad & Hannah Kate Schofield & Bilal Riaz & Rashid Iqbal & Shah Fahad & Rahul Datta & Alaa Baazeem, 2021. "Chemical and Biological Enhancement Effects of Biochar on Wheat Growth and Yield under Arid Field Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5890-:d:560877
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Subhan Danish & Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye & Shah Fahad & Shah Saud & Martin Brtnicky & Tereza Hammerschmiedt & Rahul Datta, 2020. "Drought Stress Alleviation by ACC Deaminase Producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Enterobacter cloacae , with and without Timber Waste Biochar in Maize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Zeng Tao & Lisha Shen & Xiaofeng Gu & Yizhong Wang & Hao Yu & Yuehui He, 2017. "Embryonic epigenetic reprogramming by a pioneer transcription factor in plants," Nature, Nature, vol. 551(7678), pages 124-128, November.
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    2. Ali Mohammadi & G. Venkatesh & Samieh Eskandari & Shahin Rafiee, 2022. "Eco-Efficiency Analysis to Improve Environmental Performance of Wheat Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Elisabeth Srihayu Harsanti & Asep Nugraha Ardiwinata & Sukarjo & Hidayatuz Zu'amah & Asep Kurnia & Mas Teddy Sutriadi & Dedi Nursyamsi & Wahida Annisa Yusuf & Anicetus Wihardjaka, 2024. "Nitrogen losses (N2O and NO3-) from mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping applied urea coated bio-charcoal," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(1), pages 1-10.
    4. Hamed Rafiee & Milad Aminizadeh & Elham Mehrparvar Hosseini & Hanane Aghasafari & Ali Mohammadi, 2022. "A Cluster Analysis on the Energy Use Indicators and Carbon Footprint of Irrigated Wheat Cropping Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Bilal Zulfiqar & Muhammad Aown Sammar Raza & Muhammad Farrukh Saleem & Muhammad Usman Aslam & Rashid Iqbal & Faqeer Muhammad & Jawad Amin & Muhammad Arif Ibrahim & Imran Haider Khan, 2022. "Biochar enhances wheat crop productivity by mitigating the effects of drought: Insights into physiological and antioxidant defense mechanisms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(4), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Muhammad Kashif Ejaz & Muhammad Aurangzaib & Rashid Iqbal & Muhammad Shahzaman & Muhammad Habib-ur-Rahman & Mohamed El-Sharnouby & Rahul Datta & Fahad M. Alzuaibr & Mohamed I. Sakran & Chukwuma C. Ogb, 2022. "The Use of Soil Conditioners to Ensure a Sustainable Wheat Yield under Water Deficit Conditions by Enhancing the Physiological and Antioxidant Potentials," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Muhammad Saqlain Zaheer & Hafiz Haider Ali & Walid Soufan & Rashid Iqbal & Muhammad Habib-ur-Rahman & Javaid Iqbal & Muhammad Israr & Ayman El Sabagh, 2021. "Potential Effects of Biochar Application for Improving Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) Growth and Soil Biochemical Properties under Drought Stress Conditions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, October.
    8. repec:caa:jnlpse:v:preprint:id:282-2023-pse is not listed on IDEAS

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