Addition of biochar to urea and urine fertilizer for improving soil chemical properties and maize yield in acid upland, East Lampung

Abstract

Some studies have shown the ability of biochar in nutrient retention, including N such as urea and urine. The objective was to evaluate the effect of addition of biochar to urea/urine on the soil chemical properties and maize yield in acid upland East Lampung. The study was conducted at the Research station of Indonesian Soil Research Institute, East Lampung, from February to May 2016. The study used a randomized block design 4 replications, with treatments: 1) urea, 2) biochar (BC) + urea, 3) BC + urea (dissolved), 4) BC + urine and 5) urine. The parameters measured were soil chemical properties and maize yields. The results showed that the addition of biochar on urea and urine had soil chemical properties significantly better than without biochar. Urine could be applied with biochar. The highest dry grain was obtained from BC + urea (7.49 t ha-1) and dissolved BC + urea (7.15 t ha-1) compared to the others treatment (5.11 to 6.05 t ha-1). The application of BC + urine had a higher dry grain 12% compared to the urine without biochar treatment. Application of BC + urea, whether dissolved or not, is more effective to be applied in acid upland in East Lampung because it has soil chemical properties and yield better than BC + urine.