Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar

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2 International Journal of Scientific Research in Agricultural Sciences, 3(3), pp , 2016 Available online at ISSN: ; 2016; Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Full Length Research Paper Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar Emmanuel Ndor 1, James O. Jayeoba 2, Charles Livinus A. Asadu 3, Ekene Mark-Anthony Iheshiulo 2 * 1 Department of Crop Production Technology, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 2 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia, Nigeria 3 Department of Soil and Land Resource Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Ekene.Iheshiulo@dal.ca; +1 (902) Received 12 August 2016; Accepted 20 December 2016 Abstract. The science of modern biochar for soil management and climate change mitigation is a relatively recent development and has gained increasing attention over the past few years. Experiments to assess the potential of rice husk and sawdust biochar were conducted in 2014 to improve the growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter yield of maize. The treatments were 0, 60, 120 g of rice husk and sawdust biochar. Results showed that rice husk and sawdust biochar had a significant effect on growth, leave area and biomass. In both trials, rice husk and sawdust biochar applied at 120 g/pot was significantly (P = 0.05) better in promoting growth ( cm) and ( cm); leave area ( cm) and ( cm) and biomass ( g) and ( g). Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium uptake were also significantly influenced by rice husk and sawdust biochar application at both trials. 120 g/pot of rice husk and sawdust biochar produced the highest value of N uptake ( %) and ( %); P ( mg/kg) and ( mg/kg) and K ( cmol/kg) and ( cmol/kg) in both trials. Rice husk and sawdust biochar applied at 120 g/pot was significantly higher in promoting dry matter accumulation in maize in both trials. Therefore, application of biochar as soil amendment had positive impact on plant growth with a value addition of acting as carbon sink in the soil, thereby mitigating climate change. Keywords: Biochar, growth, maize, nutrients, rice husk, sawdust, uptake 1. INTRODUCTION Soil fertility and climatic condition makes it difficult to reach higher crop growth and yield especially with a cereal crop like maize, which is an exhaustive and vigorous growing crop (B. Ahmed, 1996, unpublished PhD thesis). Maize is one of the main cereal crops of West Africa, and the most important cereal food crops in northern Nigeria. Maize has established itself as a very significant component of the farming system and determines the cropping pattern of the predominantly peasant farmers in northern Nigeria (Ndor et al., 2015). Maize has been of great importance in providing food for man, feed for livestock and raw materials for some agro-based industries. Maize consists of 71% starch, 9% protein and 4% oil on a dry weight basis (FAO and ILO, 1997). Despite the importance of maize to the teeming population of Nigerians, its production has not met the food and industrial requirement of the country (Iken and Amusa, 2004). This may be attributed to soil deterioration due to depletion of organic matter, which 99 houses most of essential nutrients for the plant growth (Ndor et al., 2010). Growth and development of a crop is determined by the effectiveness of a crop in absorbing, translocating and partitioning nutrients for dry matter accumulation (Mahdi, 2014). Any factor that hastens crop growth will invariably increase yield, while any factor that retards growth will invariably translate to reduction in crop yield. The uptake of nutrients and their subsequent distribution to various parts of maize plants varied primarily with factors like the native soil fertility, application of chemical fertilizers, the growth stage of the plant and the environmental conditions. However, when the soil is intensively cultivated with high levels of chemical fertilization, the organic matter in the soil is quickly decomposed into carbon dioxide by soil microbes and this gas released into the atmosphere, leaving the soil compacted and nutrientpoor as well as adding to global warming (Lal, 2004). One feasible measure to increase soil fertility is addition of organic matter as soil amendment (Verheijene et al., 2009). Although application of

3 Ndor et al. Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar organic matters (i.e. manure, mulches, and composts) have frequently been shown to increase soil fertility, but the benefits usually last only for one or two growing seasons due to the rapid mineralization of organic matter under the hot, humid tropical environment (Diels et al.,2004). This has made the practice expensive and therefore, the farmers refrain from organic matter addition to crops (Masulili et al., 2010). Biochar, a carbon-rich material obtained from heating organic biomass under limited oxygen conditions appears to be a more stable source of carbon and it remains in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years (Lehmann et al., 2006). The addition of biochar as amendment materials to agricultural soils is receiving much attention due to the apparent benefits of biochar to soil quality and enhanced crop growth and yields, as well as the potential to gain carbon credits by active carbon sequestration (Major, 2011). The present study is aimed at assessing the potential of biochar amended soil in improving growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter yield of maize plant. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS replicated three times to produced 27 plastic buckets. The experimental design used was complete randomized design (CRD) and the treatments consisted of three levels of rice husk and sawdust biochar: 0, 60, 120 g factorially combined to form 9 treatments. Maize seeds of Oba 98 were planted in each pot as the test crop; 35 g of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer was applied on each pot and other agronomic practices were carried out Data Collection Maize growth parameters were taken at six weeks after planting and these include: plant height, number of leaves and leaf area using the formula: LA = L x W x 0.75 Where: L = Length of the leaf, W = Maximum width and 0.75 = Crop factor. Then, the maize plants were harvested and oven dried at 45 o c for tissues analysis. N, P and K uptake was determined by nutrient concentration in the plant tissue multiply by total plant dry matter yield (Mahadi, 2014) Data Analysis 2.1. Site and Climate Pot experiments were conducted in 2014 (Initial and Residual trials) at the screen house of Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University Lafia Campus, Nigeria (08.33 N and E). The study area falls within southern guinea savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria, and is located between Latitude N, Longitude E. Rainfall usually starts from March October, and the average monthly rainfall figures ranges from mm. The months of July and August usually records heavy rainfall. The daily maximum temperature ranges from 20.0ºC 38.5ºC and daily minimum ranges from 18.7ºC 28.2ºC. The months of February to early April are the months that have the highest maximum temperature while the lowest maximum temperature months are recorded in December and January because of the prevailing cold harmattan wind from the northern part of the country at this period. The relative humidity rises as from April to a maximum of about % in July (NIMET, 2014) Soil Sample Collection and Pot Experiment Top soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-30 cm from the teaching and research farms of College of Agriculture, Lafia; for pot experiment. Then 5 kg of soil samples obtained were filled into 9 plastic buckets which is equal to the number of treatment and 100 Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using GENSTAT, and where there was a significant difference; the means were separated using F-LSD at 5% probability level. 3. RESULTS The chemical properties of the biochars used for the experiment are presented in (Table 1). The ph of rice husk biochars used was almost neutral (7.14) and sawdust biochar was strongly alkaline (9.33). Rice husk biochar had higher quantities of total nitrogen of 6.3 g/kg, organic carbon 20.7 g/kg compared with the sawdust biochar. However, the sawdust biochar had higher quantities of ashes (4.25 g/kg) compare to the rice husk biochar. The C/N ratio of rice husk biochar was 8.05 g/kg; while the C/N ratio of sawdust biochar was g/kg. The sawdust biochar material contained higher quantities of carbon and carbon/nitrogen ration than rice husk biochar. The cation exchange capacities of both sawdust and rice husk biochar were very low; but the percentage base saturation of both biochars were very high (88 % saw dust biochar and 96 % rice husk biochar). The soil was very low in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon and the same with cation exchange capacity. However, the soil was slightly to moderately acidic in nature with soil ph of 6.11 and high sand fraction of %.

4 International Journal of Scientific Research in Agricultural Sciences, 3(3), pp , 2016 Table 1: Chemical and physical properties of biochars and soil used for the trials n.d: not determined, OC: organic matter. Table 2: Effect of rice husk and sawdust biochars on growth parameters of maize plant at five weeks after planting Biochars No. leaves *No. leaves Plant height (cm) *Plant height (cm) Biomass Weight (g) *Biomass Weight (g) Leaf area (cm) *Leaf area (cm) RH (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) SD (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) Interaction RH x SD ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns RH: Rice husk, SD: Sawdust, *Residual trial, ns: no significant effect. Rice husk and saw dust biochar had a significant effect on growth height, leave area and biomass weight of maize plant (Table 2). In both initial and residual trials, rice husk and sawdust biochar applied at 120 g/pot was significantly (p<0.05) better in promoting maize growth height ( cm) and ( cm); leave area ( cm) and ( cm) and biomass weight ( g) and ( g). These figures are statistically comparable with application of 60 g/pot, but higher than the control in both rice husk and sawdust biochar in the initial and residual trials. The general growth of maize was better at the initial trial compared with the residual trial. Combine effect of rice husk and sawdust biochar did not produce any significant (p<0.05) effect on the growth parameters of maize. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium uptake by maize plant were also significantly (p<0.05) influenced by rice husk and sawdust biochar application at both initial residual trials (Table 3). 120 g/pot of rice husk biochar produced maize with the highest value of N uptake ( %); P ( mg/kg) and K ( cmol/kg) in both initial and residual trials. 101

5 Ndor et al. Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar Table 3: Effect of rice husk and sawdust biochar on macro-nutrient uptake. Biochar N (%) *N (%) P (mg kg -1 ) *P (mg/kg) K (cmol/kg) *K (cmol/kg) RH (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) SD (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) Interaction RH x SD ns ns ns ns ns ns RH: Rice husk, SD: Sawdust, *Residual trial, ns: no significant effect Table 4: Effect of rice husk and sawdust biochar on dry matter yield of maize at six weeks after planting Biochars Dry matter yield (g) *Dry matter yield (g) RH (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) SD (g/pot) Total mean LSD (0.05) Interaction RH X SD ns ns RH: Rice husk, SD: Sawdust, *Residual trial, ns: no significant effect. Also, 120 g/pot of saw dust biochar produced maize that took in the highest values of N ( %); P ( mg/kg) and K ( cmol/kg) in both initial and residual trials. All these figures are higher than the application rates of 60 g/pot and the control in both rice husk and sawdust biochar in the initial and residual trials. The combine effect of rice husk and sawdust biochar did not produce any significant (p<0.05) difference in NPK uptake by maize. Rice husk and saw dust biochar had a significant effect on dry matter yield of maize plant (Table 4). In both initial and residual trials, rice husk and sawdust biochar applied at 120 g/pot was significantly (p<0.05) higher in promoting g and 3.19 g dry matter accumulation in maize; while sawdust biochar encouraged dry matter accumulation of g and 3.09 g in maize plant compare with the other rates of biochar application. These figures are statistically comparable with application rate of 60 g/pot, but higher than the control in both rice husk and sawdust biochar in the initial and residual trials. Dry matter accumulation in maize was higher at the initial trial compared with the residual trial. Combine effect of rice husk and sawdust biochar did not produce any 102 significant (p<0.05) effect on the growth parameters of maize. 4. DISCUSSION The vigorous growth (plant height, leave area and biomass weight) performance of maize plants noticed in this soil amended with rice husk and sawdust biochars in both the initial and residual trials could be attributed to the fact that the soil in the study area consist of higher quantity of sandy particles, low clay content and deficient in some macronutrient (Table 1). When biochars were incorporated into the soils it reduces the sizes of the soil pores thereby reducing the leaching of these macro-nutrients and also increased water holding capacity, increased cation exchange capacity (CEC), and provide a medium for adsorption of minimal plant nutrients and improved conditions for soil micro-organisms (Sohi et al., 2009). This explains why amending the soil with biochars brought about this visible improvement in the growth of maize plant. Also, increase application of both biochar rates resulted to increased quantities of macro- nutrients uptake by maize plant. This is in tandem with the result of Van Zwieten et al. (2010) who reported

6 International Journal of Scientific Research in Agricultural Sciences, 3(3), pp , 2016 similar effect of biochar on N uptake in which it was observed that application of biochar significantly increased N uptake in plant. Increased in dry matter yield because of increases in both biochar application may be attributed to the fact that presence of biochar in the soil increased bio-availability of nutrients in the soil and encourage large quantities of nutrients uptake by maize and subsequent conversion of this nutrient into plant materials. This is in consonance with result obtained by Patel and Yadav (2015), who worked on the effect of biochar on growth, dry matter yield and maize nutrition. 5. CONCLUSION The results obtained in this study revealed that, soil amended with rice-husk and sawdust biochar significantly improved maize growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter accumulation. This may be translated into increased yield of maize. 120 g/pot of both rice husk and sawdust biochar produced the optimal growth of maize; which is comparable to application of 60 g/pot. However long time field trials should be conducted to confirm the effect of biochar on growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter accumulation of maize. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thanks to Tsaku Namson, the laboratory technician for the laboratory works and the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University Keffi - Nigeria for providing the space needed for the study. REFERENCES Arif M, Ali A, Umair, M, Munsif F, Ali K, Inamullah Saleem M, Ayub G (2012). Effect of biochar FYM and mineral nitrogen alone and in combination on yield and yield components of maize. Sarhad J. Agric., 28(2): Diels J, Vanlauwe B, Van der Meersh MK, Sanginga N, and Merck RJ (2004). Long-term soil organic carbon dynamics in a sub humid tropical climate: 13C data and modeling with ROTHC. Soil Biol. Biochem., 36: FAO, ILO (1997). Maize in human nutrition intermediate level handbook. FAO and ILO Publication; Rome, Italy. Iken JE, Amusa NA (2004). Maize research and production in Nigeria. A review. Afr. J. Biotechnol., 3(6): Lal R (2004). Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. Geoderma, 123: Lehmann J, Gaunt J, Rondon M (2006). Biochar sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems: A review. Mitig. Adapt. Strat. Gl., 11: Mahadi MA (2014) Growth, nutrient uptake and yield of maize (zea mays l.) as influenced by weed control and poultry manure. Int. J. Sci Nat. 5:1: Major J (2011). Biochar: A new soil management tool for farmers and gardeners. Appalachian Sustainable Development; IBI report. Masulili A, Utomo WH, Syekhfani Ms (2010). Rice husk biochar for rice based cropping system in acid soil 1. The characteristics of rice husk biochar and its influence on the properties of acid sulfate soils and rice growth in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. J. Agric. Sci. (Canada), 3: Ndor E, Agbede OO, Dauda SN (2010). Growth and yield response of cotton (Gossypium spp) to varying levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization in southern guinea savanna zone, Nigeria. Journal of Production Agriculture and Technology, 6(2): Ndor E, Jayeoba OJ, Asadu CLA (2015). Effect of biochar soil amendment on soil properties and yield of sesame varieties in Lafia, Nigeria. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 9(4): 1-8. NIMET (2014). Nigerian Meteorological Agency. Lafia Station. Patel PC, Yadav NK (2015). Effect of biochar on growth, dry matter yield and nutrition of corn (Zea mays L.) grown on sandy loam of middle Gujarat , India. Sohi S, Lopez-Capel E, Krull ES, Bol R (2009). Biochar, climate change and soil: A review to guide future research. CSIRO Land and Water Science Report, 05: 09. Van Zwieten L, Kimber S, Morris S, Chan KY, Downie A, Rust J, Joseph S, Cowie A (2010). Effects of biochar from slow pyrolysis of paper mill waste on agronomic performance and soil fertility. Plant Soil., 327: Verheijen FGA, Jeffery S, Bastos AC, van der Velde M, Diafas I (2009). Biochar Application to soils - A critical scientific review of effects on soil properties, processes and functions. EUR EN, office for the official publications of the European communities, Luxembourg, 149pp. 103

Ndor et al. Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar Dr.

Technology (Crop Production) from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (1995) and Master s degree in Environmental management from Benue State University Makurdi (2011).

Ndor Emmanuel is the current Head of Department Crop Production Technology, College of Agriculture Lafia, Nasarawa state; Nigeria.

His area of research interest is agronomy, soil fertility management, soil remediation and solid waste management. Dr. Jayeoba O.

7 Ndor et al. Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) Grown in Soil Amended with Rice Husk and Sawdust Biochar Dr. Ndor Emmanuel is a lecturer in the Department of Crop Production Technology, College of Agriculture Lafia, Nasarawa state; Nigeria. He obtained a bachelor degree in Agric. Technology (Crop Production) from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (1995) and Master s degree in Environmental management from Benue State University Makurdi (2011). His PhD is in Soil Science (2016) with a research focused on Biochar, Soil fertility enhancement, Plant nutrients uptake and Carbon Sequestration. Dr. Ndor Emmanuel is the current Head of Department Crop Production Technology, College of Agriculture Lafia, Nasarawa state; Nigeria. He has published over twenty (20) refereed articles in local/international reputable journals and conference proceedings. His area of research interest is agronomy, soil fertility management, soil remediation and solid waste management. Dr. Jayeoba O. James is an Associate Professor of Agronomy at Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria; he obtained a bachelor degree in Agriculture (Soil science) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria (1992) and later bagged his Master s degree in Agroclimatology/simulation modelling (Soil Science) at ABU Zaria (2001). His PhD research focused on Evaluation of soil qualities suitability for arable Agriculture using Geo-informatics at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (2013). Dr. Jayeoba is currently Head of Department of Agronomy, NSUK and Managing Editor of Production Agriculture and Technology Journal (PAT Journal). He has more than 22 years of teaching and research experience, both at National (FRIN) and International (ICRISAT and FAO) levels and has published several refereed articles in local/international reputable journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Jayeoba s field of expertise s are in crop and soil Modeling, GIS/Remote sensing, Land Resources management, soil fertility and crop nutrition and climate Change research. Professor Charles Livinus A. Asadu obtained his first degree, Bachelor of Agriculture (Soil Science, First class Hons) in 1982; Master s degree in 1986 and Doctorate degree (1989) in Soil Science from University of Nigeria, Nsukka; training certificates from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA, 1989), Ibadan, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, At present, Prof. Asadu is a senior lecturer and a full professor in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and has published numerous refereed articles in professional journals and conference proceedings. Prof. Asadu s area of specialization is in pedology, soil survey, soil resource management and agronomy. Ekene Mark-Anthony Iheshiulo is a postgraduate student at Department of Plant, Food and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada and a recipient of International Graduate student and Marguerite I. Vernon scholarships. He obtained his first degree from Nasarawa State University Keffi - Nigeria in Bachelor of Agriculture (crop/soil option, First class Hons) in As an upcoming soil scientist, Ekene has few refereed articles in local/international reputable journals and conference proceedings. He is interested in plant nutrition, soil fertility, soil conservation, agronomy and horticultural crop production.

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