Title:	Biochar as a soil amendment tool: effects on soil properties and yield of maize and cabbage in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana.
Authors:	AKOLGO, G. A. KEMAUSUOR, F. AWAFO, E. A. AMANKWAH, E. ATTA-DARKWA, T. ESSANDOH, E. O. BART-PLANGE, A. MAIA, C. M. B. de F.
Affiliation:	GILBERT AYINE AKOLGO, University of Energy and Natural Resource; FRANCIS KEMAUSUOR, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, KNUST; EDWARD ABINGYA AWAFO, University of Energy and Natural Resource; EMMANUEL AMANKWAH, University of Energy and Natural Resource; THOMAS ATTA-DARKWA, University of Energy and Natural Resource; ERIC OSEI ESSANDOH, University of Energy and Natural Resource; ATO BART-PLANGE, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, KNUST; CLAUDIA MARIA BRANCO DE F MAIA, CNPF.
Date Issued:	2020
Citation:	Open Journal of Soil Science, v. 10, n. 3, p. 91-108, Mar. 2020.
Description:	Ghana's soil is continuously declining in fertility due to continuous cultiva- tion and rapid mineralization of its soil organic matter. Previous studies have touted the potential of biochar to help improve soil properties and increase the yield of crops. This study investigated the effects of the application of bi- ochar on physicochemical properties of soil and the yield of maize and cab- bage in Ghana. The study indicated that application of biochar significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) from 3.88% (for control) to 5.72% (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha and 0 ton/ha of NPK). It also increased soil pH from 6.55 in (for control) to 7.30 (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha) and 0 ton/ha of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which can help ameliorate the soil acidity problem of Ghanaian soils. This field study, demonstrated that addition of biochar from sawdust increased the yield (be- tween the control (0 ton/ha of biochar, 0% of recommended dose of NPK) and 20 ton/ha, 0% recommended dose of NPK) of maize and cabbage by 6.66% and 7.57% respectively. This study concluded that application of bio- char offers a great potential to improve soil quality and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana.
Thesagro:	Solo Propriedade Físico-Química
NAL Thesaurus:	Biochar Soil amendments Physicochemical properties
Keywords:	Maize Yield
DOI:	10.4236/ojss.2020.103005
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPF)