Effect of different levels of fertilizers, biochars and their feedstocks on nutrient content in mustard and properties of post-harvest soil

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken in the net house of Department of Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during Rabi season of 2015-16 with a view to assess the effect of different levels of fertilizers, biochars and their feedstocks on nutrient content in mustard and post-harvest soil of red soil of Eastern Uttar Pradesh used for this experiment. This experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with twenty treatment combinations consisting of three levels of different types of biochars and its feedstocks i.e. 0, 2.25 g kg-1 and 4.5 g kg−1 of soil(corresponding to 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1, respectively) along with 50 percent RDF and four levels of fertilizers 0 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent of recommended dose (100 per cent RDF means 45:30:20:20 mg kg-1 corresponding to 90: 60: 40: 40: kg ha-1 of N, P2O5, K2O & S, respectively in case of mustard) replicated thrice. Required quantities of biochar for 10 kg soil were calculated and full doses were applied as soil application 15 days prior to sowing. Nutrient content in stover and seed, residual nutrient content in post-harvest soil were determined to assess the effect of treatments. The data collected during the course of investigation were subjected to statistical analysis to draw valid conclusions.