Abstract

Yeboah E, Ofori P , Quansah G. W , Dugan E , Sohi S. P.

Biochar based soil management has not being fully exploited in the tropics. In a greenhouse study, two soil types (sandy loam and silt loam soils) and 6 treatments namely: 3t ha-l Biochar, 120 kg N ha-1 , 120 kg N ha-1 + 3t ha-1 biochar, 4t C ha-1 cattle manure, 4t C ha-1 cattle manure + 3t ha-1 biochar and control un-amended soil were evaluated for soil productivity. The treatments were replicated 3 times. Maize variety “mamaba” was the test crop. Shoot dry weight ranged from 41 to 45 g pot -l at the sandy loam soil at Ayuom and 28 to 35 g pot-l at the silt loam soil at Kwadaso. Shoot dry weight was significantly (P < 0.001) higher at the sandy loam soil compared to the silt loam soil. Soil pH declined in both soils. Biochar resulted in N recovery of 4 and 5% in maize shoot and root respectively on the sandy loam soil but caused less N recovery at the silt loam soil. The results show that N recovery can be improved by biochar application to sandy loam soil but not silt loam soil suggesting soil textural effect in the effectiveness of biochar application for soil productivity.