Pedosphere 25(5): 713--719, 2015
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2015 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Synergistic effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on soybean yield in an alkaline soil |
F. Z. METE1, S. MIA1 , F. A. DIJKSTRA2, Md. ABUYUSUF1
and A. S. M. I. HOSSAIN1 |
1Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science and
Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602
(Bangladesh)
2Department of Environmental Science, The University
of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570 (Australia) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Biochar effects on legume growth and biological nitrogen
fixation have been studied extensively, mostly in acidic
soils with laboratory produced biochar. In the present
study, a pot experiment in a full factorial experimental
design was performed to examine soybean yield and
nodulation of three genotypes grown with or without
biochar and NPK fertilizers in an alkaline soil. We
observed synergistic effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer
applications on biomass and seed yields for all three
soybean genotypes. Total biomass production and seed yield
increased on average by 67% and 54%, respectively, with
biochar and by 201% and 182% with NPK fertilizer
application compared to the control. When applications of
biochar and NPK fertilizer were combined, the increases
were 391% and 367%, respectively. However, the biomass
production in the control was very low (692 kg ha-1)
due to a high soil pH (8.80). The nodulation increased with
biochar and NPK fertilizer applications, and was largest
with the combined application. A correlation was found
between leaf chlorophyll content (single photon avalanche
diode value) and nodule number. We suggested that the
synergistic increase in yield was due to a decrease in soil
pH caused by biochar and NPK fertilizer applications
thereby increasing P availability in this alkaline soil. |
| Key Words: biological nitrogen fixation, biomass production, P
availability, seed yield, soil pH |
| Citation: Mete, F. Z., Mia, S., Dijkstra, F. A., Abuyusuf, d. and Hossain, M. I. 2015. Synergistic effects of biochar and NPK fertilizer on soybean yield in an alkaline soil. Pedosphere. 25(5): 713-719. |
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