Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Halesh DS, Veeresh H, Narayana Rao K, Bhat SN, Devanand Maski, Beladhadi RV and Pooja V

Abstract:
Recently great emphasis has been given to working out strategies to increase the use efficiency of soil-applied nutrients. It is presumed that fertilizer enriched biochar pellets can slowly release nutrients in synchrony with crop demand and facilitate optimum nutrient uptake. The experiment was conducted to assess the effects of nitrogen enriched biochar pellets on the nutrient use efficiency in maize. The green house pot experiment was conducted during Kharif 2022-23 at College of Agriculture, Raichur by employing an RCBD design having thirteen treatments with three replications. The study revealed that treatment with the application of nitrogen enriched biochar pellets @ 7.5 MT ha^-1 (N as Ammonium sulfate) + recommended doses of phosphorus and potassium (T₁₃) recorded significantly higher nutrient use efficiency for NPK i.e. 40.27, 22.96 and 61.55 percent respectively. The lowest nutrient use efficiency (NUE) for NPK was recorded in treatment T₇, which receives biochar pellets @ 7.5 MT ha^-1. Further, the study revealed that the translocation factor of NPK was more than that of micronutrients. The findings suggest that N enriched biochar pellets can serve as a slow-release fertilizer to improve crop NUE. Hence, based on the results of this pot study, it is advised that nitrogen-enriched biochar pellets be considered for maize production. However, further confirmation of these findings is needed through a long-term field study.