The Use of Rice Husk as Soilless Medium to Grow Capsicum Chinense: Effect of Biochar and Irrigation

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the potential of using amended substrate as a planting medium component to improve rice husk and saw dust used in producing Capsicum chinense crop. The biochar is produced from a locally fabricate plyrosis kiln, this is then incorporated into rice husk and substrate at 30% and 50% (vol.) respectively to grow (Capsicum chinense), in black buckets. The responses of plant growth to the percentage of biochar in substrate mixtures are different across the line of treatment. The Capsicum chinense, were grown in amended substrate (A-30% biochar, b-rice husk (Ab) and B-50% biochar, b-rice husk (Bb)) with different treatment level of I60, I80, I100 and I120. The I100 Bb and I120 Ab treatment recorded the highest value of plant height, which is 21.9 cm for the both of them. The amended substrate Bb produced a widest momentous stem diameter in all the treatment levels than in substrate Ab with a value of 1 cm. In addition, broader leaf area index was observed in the amended substrate Ab than in Bb. Biochar application also enhanced plant height, stem diameter, plant fresh, weights and yield components of pepper plant. Moreover, biochar application improved the efficiency of irrigation water usage. Therefore, biochar amendment could be an effective option to improve substrate media, which affects plants.