Improvement of Soil Properties by Addition of Biochar as Enriched Fertilizer for Growth Promoting of Soybean Plant
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: The aim of this study is to increase soil organic compounds in the long term so as to increase the chemical properties and subsequently increase crop production, especially soybean. This research had used a completely factorial randomized design, consisting of 2 factors, 4 different levels of biochar sources and 4 levels of enriched biochar rates. Nutrients used for enrichment were N, P, and K; while the ratio between NPK was 8:5:4, solely based on the total amount of nutrients in soybean crops and their level in biochar. This research used Ultisol soil taken from Jasinga Sub-district, Bogor, West Java. The findings of this study indicated that the addition of biochar, with NPK enrichment (8:5:4), had the potential ability to improve acidic soil properties, including pH, C-organic, C/N, CEC, and NPK availability; while the addition of biochar only (without NPK enrichment) significantly increased soil pH, C/N, and C-organic. Increased soil chemical properties and escalation of NPK availabilities were also followed by enhancement of dry weight of plants correlated positively with N uptake (r = 0.72**), P absorption (r=0.32ns), and K absorption (r=0.98**), but negatively correlated with the weight and number of roots nodule (r = -0.54*). A negative correlation between nutrients uptake, especially N, and dry weight of the plant, might have a particular effect on the falling activity of the root nodules, as indicated by the number and weight of the root nodules.
Source: Journal of Tropical Soils
Institution: Universitas Jember
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $125
OpenAlex ID: W3092951797