Effects of biochar and cow manure on soil chemical properties and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields in entisol

Abstract

Availability of agricultural land is an important factor in ensuring food availability. Dryland such as Entisol has been used as an alternative for agricultural activities. Efforts to improve soil fertility on dryland can be done through the application of biochar and cow manure as soil amendments. This research was carried out on Entisoldryland located in the experimental site of The ACIAR Project, UniversitasSyiahKuala from April to September 2018. The study used a non-Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The treatments weresoil amendments of rice husk and cocopeatbiochars, each was combined with cow manure. The doses used were 0 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 for each type of biochar, while cow manure was given at the doses of 0 t ha-1; 10 t ha-1; and 20 t ha-1. After the application of biochar and cow manure, the experimental land was planted with peanuts. The results showed that the application of biochar and cow manure were able to increase soil pH, organic C, total N, C:N ratio, available-P, and exchangeable-K. Both types of soil amendments were also able to give a significant result on the weight of peanut seeds, and increase the potential yield of peanuts by 3,96 t ha-1.