Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

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

Abstract:
A greenhouse pot culture experiment was carried out during kharif, 2022 at College of Agriculture, Raichur, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India to study the response of maize to nitrogen enriched biochar pellets application. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with thirteen treatments and each treatments replicated thrice. The results of the experiment revealed that application of biochar in different forms along with recommended dose of fertilizer had recorded significant variations in both growth parameters and root distributions Viz., plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf area index, total dry matter production, root length and root weight in maize. Among various treatments, the application of nitrogen enriched biochar pellets @ 7.5 MT ha^-1 Plus recommended dose of P & K fertilizer recorded the highest growth parameters of maize at 30, 45 and 60 DAS and also better root distribution at 60 DAS. On the other hand, the treatment absolute control (T₁) recorded the lowest growth parameters as well as poor root distribution in maize. Apart from the above, the biochemical (SPAD) and biophysical (NDVI) values recorded during the course of investigations showed significant variations across the treatments at different stages of crop growth. Based on the overall results of the study it was perceptible that nitrogen enriched biochar pellets act as a slow nitrogen releasing resource material and thus benefits crops' growth and development.