Biochar types mixed with organic and inorganic fertilizer boost maize growth and yield in sandy arid belts of Zimbabwe

Biochar produced from the pyrolysis of feedstocks improves crop productivity by enhancing the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and sequestering carbon through the decomposition of organic residues. However, there is limited information about the types of local feedstocks used by smallholder farmers. A field experiment was conducted in Munyarari, Mutare District, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the growth and yield responses of maize to biochar derived from different feedstock types mixed with cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer. Biochars from cowpea stover, msasa leaves, and maize stover were each mixed with cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer as treatments, with manure and inorganic fertilizer alone serving as the standard. Plant height, leaf length, stem girth, cob length, and grain yield were measured. Results indicated that the biochar feedstock types significantly (P<0.001) increased maize growth and yield from 4 to 8 weeks after seed emergence and at harvest. The effectiveness of biochar in enhancing maize productivity was in the following order: cowpea stover, maize stover, and msasa leaves. The study demonstrated a technologically advanced approach to using locally available organic materials to prepare biochar for improving maize growth and yield. Key words: Feedstocks, biochar, growth, yield.