EFFECT OF BIOCHAR AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND YIELD OF MAIZE IN THE SAVANNAH AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF GHANA

Abstract

Biochar as a soil amendment,creates a recalcitrant soil carbon pool that is carbon-negative,serving as a net withdrawal of atmospheric carbon dioxide stored in highly recalcitrant carbon stocks. Leaching of nutrient is problematic in most of the tropical areas with low soil fertility and plant nutrition. This study reveal the effect of biochars on nutrient uptake and leaching. Staple crops such as maize and rice are produced in the northern part of Ghana. There is a substantial biomass accessible and available as a potential feed stock for biochar production such as groundnut shell, corncobs, sawdust and ricehusk; however, cost and benefit analysis of these feed stocks that could be used for biochar has less documentation. The objective of this study was to compare single effect of biochar produced from poultry manure, groundnut shell, rice husk, saw dust and corn cobs and inorganic fertilizers on soil properties and yield of maize (Zea mays). Each of the five different biochar produced from poultry manure, groundnut shell, rice husk, saw dust and corn cobs and inorganic fertilizers was applied and planted in lysimeters as well as in-ground. There were twelve treatments and four replicates. Therate of biocharapplicationwas5t/ha and standard fertilizer and half of the standard fertilizer application (N90 P60 K60 and N45 P30 K30 kg/ha respectively and control arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) were applied. The data was analyzed with statistic 10 and where the effect was significant the honest significant difference (HSD) was used to separate the means. The cost benefit analysis shows that using biochar is less expensive.The results indicated that combination of biochar and inorganic fertilizer of (N45:P30: K30) as a soil amendment applied increased the soil nutrient content, nutrient retention capacity, water content, and decrease in soil acidity which led to improved nutrient supply to maize plant and increased maize yield and reduced leaching. Maize farmers in Nyankpala-northern of Ghana can improve soil fertility and increase maize yield byapplying5t/ha biochar with a combination of biochar and inorganic fertilizer of (N45:P30:K30).