INFLUENCE OF ENRICHED CORN COB BIOCHAR ON SOIL PROPERTIES, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND YIELD OF PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract In the search for alternative and sustainable inputs for agricultural production, biochar has been shown to improve soil quality and eventually lead to improved crop productivity. Enriching biochar with chemical fertilizers is an innovative way further to explore its benefits on the soil- plant-environment system. A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of enriched biochar, with and without the combination of other soil amendments, on the growth and yield of peanut and changes on the chemical properties of soil. The high absorptive capacity and slow nutrient release property of enriched biochar demonstrated an increase in peanut yield and enhanced soil chemical properties. A higher bacterial count was recorded in the 2.5 tons/ha FECCBC + microbial inoculant compared to the other treatments. Several growth traits (marketable pod weight, plant fresh weight and root fresh and dry matter weight) were higher in 5 tons/ha FECCBC compared to other treatments. Such results were associated with its higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations in the plant and root. On the other hand, the treatment applied with 5 tons/ha corn cob biochar showed significantly higher nodule formation than other treatments. The 5 tons/ha FECCBC (Treatment 3) and 2.5 tons/ha FECCBC plus microbial inoculant application (Treatment 7) are recommended in sandy loam soil for they both improved the soil chemical, microbial properties, growth and yield of peanut.