Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
RR Banpatti, RV Dhopavkar, SS More, AR Raut, Kanchan Ingle, YR Parulekar, VG Chavan and SB Dodake

Abstract:
A field and laboratory study entitled “Effect of biochar on yield of watermelon and physico-chemical properties of soil in Alfisols of Konkan during rabi season in Konkan region” was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Dapoli, 2021- 22 using biochar and inorganic fertilizers at various rates of application. The experiment comprised of fourteen treatments viz., RDF (150:50:50) N: P₂O₅:K₂O kgha^-1 (T₁); 100% RDF + CHB @ 2 t ha^-1 (T₂); 75% RDF + CHB @ 2 t ha^-1 (T₃); 100% RDF + CHB @ 4 t ha^-1 (T₄); 75% RDF + CHB @ 4 t ha^-1 (T₅); 100% RDF + CHB @ 6 t ha^-1 (T₆); 75% RDF + CHB @ 6 t ha^-1 (T₇); 100% RDF + RHB @ 2 t ha^-1 (T₈); 75% RDF + RHB @ 2 t ha^-1 (T₉); 100% RDF + RHB @ 4 t ha^-1 (T₁₀); 75% RDF + RHB @ 4 t ha^-1 (T₁₁); 100% RDF + RHB @ 6 t ha^-1 (T₁₂); 75% RDF + RHB @ 6 t ha^-1 (T₁₃); Absolute Control (T₁₄) laid in RBD with three replications. The experimental soil was sandy loam in texture, moderately acidity in reaction, low electrical conductivity, very high level of organic carbon, medium in available nitrogen, low in available phosphorus, high in potassium and low in cation exchange capacity. The biochar was prepared by subjecting rice husk and coconut husk to low heat (300-600 °C) pyrolysis in biochar kiln. The properties of rice husk and coconut husk biochar viz. pH is 9.34 and 9.05 respectively, EC is 0.321 dSm^-1 and 0.143 dSm^-1 respectively and nutrients include, nitrogen (0.184% and 0.156% respectively), phosphorus (0.153% and 0.077% respectively), potassium (0.15% and 0.13% respectively) and total carbon (83.54% and 74.50%).