Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published December 2020 | Volume 8, Issue 12. pp. 297-304.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v8i12.20.201

 

The response of sweet corn to biochar and chemical fertilizer applications for a sandy soil

 



 

 

Nattaporn Prakongkep1*

Robert John Gilkes2

Worachart Wisawapipat3

Parapond Leksungnoen3

Wiwat Suaysom1

Claude Hammecker1,4

 

Email Author

 

1. Land Development Department 2003/61 Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand.

2. The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling, Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009 Australia.

3. Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangkhen Campus, 50 Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand.

4. Institut de Recherché pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 210, place Viala, Montpellier France.


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Citation: Prakongkep N, Gilkes RJ, Wisawapipat W, Leksungnoen P, Suaysom W, Hammecker C (2020). The response of sweet corn to biochar and chemical fertilizer applications for a sandy soil. J. Agric. Crop Res. 8(12):297-304. doi: 10.33495/jacr_v8i12.20.201.

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 Abstract 


Sandy soils have limited agricultural production. Farmers try to overcome sandy soil constraints by using various soil amendments. This study aims to evaluate the combined effects of biochar and chemical fertilizer on plant growth and nutrient uptake for sweet corn grown on a sandy soil in a glasshouse experiment. The pot experiment was conducted in a glasshouse at the Land Development Department, Bangkok using a super agro sweet corn variety (Market’s variety) (open pollinated variety) (Zea mays L.) on an Ustic Quartzipsamment at field capacity. The Complete Block Design with 2 replications and 16 treatments included 2 controls, 14 different biochar treatments (eucalyptus wood and rice husk biochars) with and without chemical (N, P and K) fertilizers applied at 1 and 2 times the fertilizer recommendation. The results showed that treatment 16 (rice husk biochar 40 ton ha-1 with chemical fertilizer at 2 times fertilizer recommendation: R40F2) was the best treatment which significantly (p<0.05) increased sweet corn growth and nutrient uptake. Clearly, biochar can increase nutrient uptake and plant yield to the benefit of farmers however biochar does not have sufficient plant nutrient contents to support maximum plant growth. Applying biochar together with chemical fertilizers is the best solution for sandy soils.

Keywords  Sweet corn   rice husk biochar   eucalyptus wood biochar   chemical fertilizer   sandy soil   

 

 

Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.or(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

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