Abstract
Biochar produced from transforming bioresource waste can benefit sustainable agriculture and support circular bioeconomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application of biochar, produced from wheat straws, and a nitrification inhibitor, sourced from neem (Azadirachta indica), in combinition with the recommended synthetic fertilizer on soil properties, maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics, and maize grain yield and quality paramters. The nitrification inhibitor was used with the concentrations of 5 and 10 mL pot−1 (N1 and N2, respectively) with four levels of biochar (B0 = 0 g, B1 = 35 g, B2 = 70 g, B3 = 105 g, B4 = 140 g pot−1), one recommended nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium syntactic fertilizer (250, 125, and 100 kg ha−1, respectively) treatment, and one control treatment. The results showed that the nitrification inhibitor enhanced crop growth while the application of biochar significantly improved soil fertility. The application of biochar significantly enhanced soil organic matter and soil nitrogen as compared with nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatment. The highest root length (65.43 cm) and root weight (50.25 g) were observed in the maize plants treated with B4 and N2 combinedly. The grain yield, total biomass production, protein content from biochar’s B4, and nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatments were not significantly different from each other. The application of 140 g biochar pot−1 (B4) with nitrification inhibitor (10 mL pot−1) resulted in higher crop yield and the highest protein contents in maize grains as compared to the control treatments. Therefore, the potential of biochar application in combination with nitrification inhibitor may be used as the best nutrient management practice after verifying these findings at a large-scale field study. Based on the experimental findings, the applied potential of the study treatments, and results of economic analysis, it can be said that biochar has an important role to play in the circular bioeconomy.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The nitrification inhibitor enhanced maize crop growth.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e2“the nitrification inhibitor enhanced crop growth while the application of biochar significantly improved soil fertility”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar application significantly improved soil fertility.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e2“the nitrification inhibitor enhanced crop growth while the application of biochar significantly improved soil fertility”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar application significantly enhanced soil organic matter and soil nitrogen compared with the NPK treatment.
- Treatment
- The application of biochare3
- Outcome
- soil organic matter and soil nitrogene3
- Direction
- enhancede3
- Comparator
- nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatmente3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e3“The application of biochar significantly enhanced soil organic matter and soil nitrogen as compared with nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
The B4 and N2 combination gave the highest maize root length (65.43 cm).
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“The highest root length (65.43 cm) and root weight (50.25 g) were observed in the maize plants treated with B4 and N2 combinedly”
Claim · model-written summary
The B4 and N2 combination gave the highest maize root weight (50.25 g).
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“The highest root length (65.43 cm) and root weight (50.25 g) were observed in the maize plants treated with B4 and N2 combinedly”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain yield, total biomass production and protein content did not differ between the B4 treatment and the NPK treatment.
- Treatment
- B4e4
- Outcome
- grain yield, total biomass production, protein contente5
- Direction
- not significantly differente6
- Comparator
- nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatmentse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e4“The highest root length (65.43 cm) and root weight (50.25 g) were observed in the maize plants treated with B4 and N2 combinedly”
e5“The grain yield, total biomass production, protein content”
e6“nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium treatments were not significantly different from each other”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar at 140 g pot−1 with nitrification inhibitor gave higher maize grain yield than the control treatments.
- Treatment
- 140 g biochar pot−1 (B4) with nitrification inhibitor (10 mL pot−1)e6
- Outcome
- crop yielde6
- Direction
- highere6
- Comparator
- control treatmentse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e6“The application of 140 g biochar pot−1 (B4) with nitrification inhibitor (10 mL pot−1) resulted in higher crop yield and the highest protein contents in maize grains as compared to the control treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar at 140 g pot−1 with nitrification inhibitor gave the highest protein content in maize grains compared with the control treatments.
- Organ / stage
- maize grainse6
- Treatment
- 140 g biochar pot−1 (B4) with nitrification inhibitor (10 mL pot−1)e6
- Outcome
- protein contentse6
- Direction
- higheste6
- Comparator
- control treatmentse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e6“The application of 140 g biochar pot−1 (B4) with nitrification inhibitor (10 mL pot−1) resulted in higher crop yield and the highest protein contents in maize grains as compared to the control treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar combined with nitrification inhibitor may be used as the best nutrient management practice after verification at large-scale field study.
- Treatment
- biochar application in combination with nitrification inhibitore7
- Outcome
- best nutrient management practicee7
- Qualifier
- after verifying these findings at a large-scale field studye7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“maize (Zea mays L.) plant growth characteristics”
e7“the potential of biochar application in combination with nitrification inhibitor may be used as the best nutrient management practice after verifying these findings at a large-scale field study”
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