Biochar application for the improving soil fertility and paddy production on two systems of planting

Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

Abstract

A product of pyrolysis of residual biomass called biochar has several benefits into soil. Bio-charcoal formed by burning organic waste which will produce activated carbon and organic carbon and will be added to the soil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochar ability to improve soil fertility and increase the production of paddy crops with two planting systems. Legowo planting system is intermittent cropping between two or more rows of rice plants and one empty row. The research was conducted in Tanjung Garbus’s Village, Deli Serdang District with an elevation of ± 50 Meters above sea level. This research used a Factorial Split Plot Design with two factors that was treatment of planting systems as main plot (S), consist of 2 (two) stages: Jajar Legowo 2:1 and Jajar Legowo 4:1 and the sub-plot was biochar application (B) consisting of 3 levels namely, without biochar application, 25.5 ton/ha, and 50.5 ton/ha. The results showed that planting system significantly affected shoot wet weight and shoot dry weight and biochar application had a significant effect on shoot wet weight and no significant effect on shoot dry weight. The interaction showed no significant effect on all parameters.