Abstract:
The application of biochar to soils have shown benefits for agricultural production, particularly through improving soil properties and crop productivity. However, very few studies examining the effects of biochar have been done on small holder mountain farms in the Himalaya. This paper presents the results of research focused on the use of biochar and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) at the rate of 5t/ha and 20t/ha, in farmer fields as a soil amendment on high mountain silt loam soils of small holder farmsin Rasuwa district of Nepal. The study indicated that there were significant (P<0.05) positive effects in certain soil properties like soil pH, SOM and nutrient status, and crop production of small holder farms. Results of this study suggest that the practice of biochar application to soil at low rates along with FYM normally has immediate positive effects on the vegetative growth of crops/plants, however, soil properties and overall crop yields may take a longer time to show improvement. |
