Selection of Optimal Application Condition of Corn Waste Biochar for Improvement of Corn Growth and Soil Fertility

Abstract

This study was conducted to select an optimal approach to corn waste biochar (BC) application, and toevaluate the effects of combined application of BC and inorganic fertilizer (IF) on corn growth and soilchemical properties in a pot experiment. Corn growth differed with BC application timing and BC applicationlevels. Based on the characteristics of corn growth in pot-based experiments, the selected optimal applicationconditions of BC were application of 500 kg 10a-1 at 20 days before sowing. Also, the chemical properties ofthe tested soil with BC after corn harvesting were significantly improved than those in the other treatments. Inparticular, soil pH and CEC regardless of application conditions were markedly increased by 0.04~0.19 unitsand 0.08~2.58 comlc kg-1 in BC treatments than without BC treatments. Additionally, combined application ofBC and IF had greater effects on corn growth than single application of BC. Therefore, the results suggestusing properly BC application conditions and a combination of BC and IF for effective corn cultivation in anupland field.