Boost Maize Yield with Minimal Chemical Fertilizer by Mixing in Biochar

WHAT TO CHANGE

1. Biochar Rate: Use maize-cob biochar at a rate of 5 tons per hectare (t ha−1).

2. Chemical Fertilizer Rate: Apply only 25% of the typically recommended rate of chemical fertilizer.

3. Tillage Method: This can be applied under either flat or tied-ridge tillage systems.

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE

• Increase in Dry Matter (DM): Combining 5 t ha−1 of maize-cob biochar with 25% of the recommended chemical fertilizer rate resulted in an 83% increase in DM at harvest (4.16 t ha−1), compared to the control (2.27 t ha−1).

• Equivalent to Full Fertilizer Rate: This combination yielded DM in the same range as treatment with the full, 100% recommended rate of chemical fertilizer.

Denis Olgen Kiobia a,∗

, Hannah A. Graef b

, Paul Reuben a

, Frederick Cassian

Kahimba a

, Frieder Graef c

, Bettina Eichler-Löbermann b

, Valerian C.K. Silayo a Original paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337562875