Opportunities of Biochar in Kanchanpur District of Nepal

The soil fertility and production were observed to be poor and declining in the district. So, an experiment was conducted to determine the opportunity of innovative and sustainable biochar in soil properties and crop production. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The research was conducted during November 2022 to May 2023 in Kanchanpur district of Nepal. Six different treatments namely, sheep manure, rice husk, poultry manure, farmyard manure and wood including one control was applied in the research. Tomato crop was selected for the research crop. Rice husk was found most effective in crop attributes and yield. The average numbers of leaves after 20 and 40 days of transplantation of tomato were 9, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4 and 9, 8, 6, 6, 5, 4 by the application of rice husk, poultry manure, farmyard manure, sheep manure, wood, and control respectively. The average yield (kg/plant) was 14, 12, 11, 11, 10 and 7 through the treatments of rice husk, poultry manure, farmyard manure, sheep manure, wood, and control respectively. The soil pH in poultry manure and wood were significantly similar and higher than other biochar treatments. Sheep manure biochar was a highly significant and effective source of nitrogen which was followed by poultry manure, rice husk/wood and control. Organic matter content was higher in sheep manure biochar followed by poultry manure, rice husk/wood, farmyard manure and control. Rice husk, sheep manure and poultry manure were effective sources of biochar, though other sources have equal importance in soil properties and crop yield or yield attributes. All the biochar sources found with their own benefits and scope in soil enhancement and crop production in the district.