مختصر البحث:
Biochar, a product of incineration of biomass is proposed for use as a soil amendment (SA) to enhance soil water
holding capacity, increase soil microbial community, and plant nutrients availability. We studied the effect of six SA (sewage
sludg…
Biochar, a product of incineration of biomass is proposed for use as a soil amendment (SA) to enhance soil water
holding capacity, increase soil microbial community, and plant nutrients availability. We studied the effect of six SA (sewage
sludge SS, horse manure HM, chicken manure CM, vermicompost Vermi, commercial inorganic fertilizer (19N-19P-19K),
commercial organic fertilizer (Nature Safe 10N-2P-8K), and biochar added to SA on the root, shoot, and plant weight of three
varieties of field-grown turnips (Purple Top White Globe PTWG, Scarlet Queen Red SQR, and Tokyo Cross TC. Regardless of
SA type used in this investigation, results revealed that varieties grown in soil treated with biochar had significantly greater
root, shoot, and plant weight compared to similar varieties grown in SA not treated with biochhar. SQR significantly increased
turnip yield compared to PTWG and TC varieties Overall turnip shoot, root, and plant weight obtained from CM amended soil
not treated with biochar was significantly greater (295.9, 524.4, and 820.3 g, respectively) compared to yield obtained from the
no-amendment (NM) control treatments (147.3, 242.5, and 389.8 g, respectively). Biochar added to SS, Org, Vermi, and HM
significantly increased plant weight from 522.3, 482.5, 476.5, and 450.2 g to 737.5, 701.9, 673.3, and 640.8 g, respectively.
This increase represents 41, 46, 41, and 42% increase in plant weight, respectively due to the addition of biochar. Regardless of
biochar application to growing plants, variety SQR is recommend for growing turnips in CM amended soil. Substitution of
inorganic fertilizer by animal manure mixed with biochar may help limited-resource farmers in growing turnips at affordable
costs
