Enhancing Wheat Crop Yield and Growth with Integrated Application of Banana Derived Biochar and Press Mud

Abstract

Biochar and press mud improves plant growth and crop productivity. However, biochar interaction with press mud in calcareous soil is not fully recognized. The man objective of the present study was to determine the effect of the banana derived biochar and press mud on the growth and the yield components of wheat crop. The experiment was conducted at Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal Balochistan. Five treatments i.e., T1 control (No amendment), T2 biochar (40 tons ha^-1), T3 (40 tons ha^-1 biochar + 25 tons ha^-1 press mud), T4 (40 tons ha^-1 biochar + 12.5 tons ha^-1 press mud) and T5 (25 tons ha^-1 press mud) were kept. Results revealed that combine application of 40 tons ha^-1 biochar + 25 tons ha^-1 press mud increased the plant fresh weight by 51%, root fresh weight by 39 %, root dry weight by 50%, shoot fresh weight by 123.2%, shoot dry weight by 65%, plant height by 38%, root length 45%, spike length 55% and number of grains per spike 65% as compared to control where no any amendments was applied. Increase in all attributes was due to suitable and positive short term effect of banana derived biochar and press mud availability near the root zone. The results proved that combine application of banana derived biochar and press mud significantly increased the growth and yield parameters of the wheat crop as compared to the control treatment.