Effect of Application Levels of Inorganic Fertilizer with Biochar on Corn Growth in an Upland Field

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of application levels of inorganic fertilizer (IF) with corn waste biochar (BC) for corn cultivation in an upland field (34° 94ʹ 24ʺ N, 127° 56ʹ 55ʺ E). The IF (N-P-K 14.5-3.0-6.0 kg 10a-1) was applied at levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of standard amount with BC (BC+IF25, BC+IF50, BC+IF75, and BC+IF100, respectively), and Cn (control), BC and IF treatments were added in this study. The BC was application of 500 kg 10a-1 at 20 days before corn sowing. The mean biomass productivity of corn plants, when grown under Cn, BC, IF, BC+IF25, BC+IF50, BC+75, and BC+IF100 treatment conditions, were 1.82, 2.21, 2.74, 2.40, 3.12, 3.73, and 4.05 kg m-2, respectively. The corn length was 14.6-18.3 cm ear-1 in all treatments, and the total weight of corn increased in the order BC+IF100 ≒ BC+IF75 > BC+IF50 > IF > BC ≒ BC+IF25 > Cn treatments. The corn productivity was highest (3.97 kg m-2) in the BC+IF100 treatment. The corn grain yields in BC+IF50, BC+IF75, and BC+IF100 treatments increased by 145, 129, and 103% respectively, over that in the IF treatment. Based on our results, the minimum IF application level using biochar for corn cultivation was N of 7.25 kg 10a-1, P of 1.5 kg 10a-1, and K of 3.0 kg 10a-1, respectively. Therefore, proper application of inorganic fertilizer with biochar is effective at improving corn cultivation and can benefit the soil environment.