Effect of different levels of biochar and inorganic fertilizer application on the growth of two grass species (Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum)

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the productivity of Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum by application of different levels of coffee husk biochar and inorganic fertilizers (DAP and urea). The Experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were T1=zero fertilizer application (control), T2= inorganic fertilizer using 100 kg DAP and 50 kg Urea, T3=5 t ha-1 biochar with 40 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer, T4=3 t ha-1t biochar with 40 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer and T5=5 t ha-1 biochar with 100 kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer for the two grass species. The result revealed that combined application of biochar and inorganic fertilizer significantly (<0.05) affected phonological variables, agronomical parameters, seed and biomass yields of
Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum measured at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting. Delayed days to 50% flowering (74 and 55 days) and 50% maturity (96 and 69 days) were obtained due to the application of 5 t ha-1 biochar with 100 kg ha-1kg ha-1 inorganic fertilizer for Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum, respectively. The highest plant height, leave length, number of tiller per plant and number of leaves per plant at all weeks were recorded for (T5) while the lowest was from T1 in both grass species. The study results indicated that the productivity of Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum can be improved by the combined application of biochar and inorganic fertilizer. In future, application of biochar combined with inorganic fertilizer should be repeated at different seasons and agro ecology
conditions.