MODIFIED CROP STRAW DERIVED BIOCHAR INCORPORATION IMPACT ON MAIZE PLANT GROWTH AND PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY IN LOW-FERTILITY SOIL

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is an important plant nutritional element, but its supply is limited since it is a nonrenewable resource. The objective of this study was to investigate the maize plant growth and soil available phosphorus status in modified rice straw biochar in lowfertility soils of northern Bangladesh. To fulfill the objectives of the research a 40days pot experiment was established with the following treatments: a) control (without biochar+KH2PO4,), b) fresh rice straw biochar2%+KH2PO4, c) H2O2+2% fresh rice straw biochar+KH2PO4, d) H2SO4+2% fresh rice straw biochar+KH2PO4 and e) HNO3+2% fresh rice straw biochar+KH2PO4 and replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD). The results indicated that incorporation of hydrogen per oxide modified rice straw biochar increased the pH value (5.85) of the soil significantly. On the other hand, soil available P value (95.42 ppm) also increased due to application of nitric acid modified rice straw biochar. Plants dry weight value (4.44gm pot-1) also increased due to application of nitric acid modified biochar. The P availability increased due to changing of soil properties like pH, OM, CEC, base cations (Ca, Mg, K and Na) after incorporation of acid modified biochar. The maize plant growth was higher yield in nitric acid modified rice straw biochar than the other treatments. Therefore, it may be suggested to consider nitric acid modified rice straw biochar application for enhancing soil health as well as obtaining higher yield of crop.