Biochar Application on Spodosols Soils Promotes Higher Plant Growth and Survival Rate

Abstract

Interests in biochar applications for improving soil properties and fertility are increasing worldwide, and numerous production techniques, raw materials,and application options are now available. This research aimed to investigatethe effects of biochar application on growth rate (height, stem diameter, leaf number,and survival) performance of Anthocephalus cadamba seedling planted on degraded Spodosols on bioassay trial in the nursery. Bioassay trial was carried out in Forestry Faculty of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia. Itfollowed CompletelyRandomized Design (CRD) applying sixlevelsof treatments, i.e.,0, 2, 5, 10, 25,and 100%v of biochar, and threereplications. The 100%v biochar treatment was aimed at investigatingthe potential of applyingbiochar for primarymedia in raising seedlingsin the nursery as the replacement of the conventional media. Of those sixlevelsof treatments, the 10%v biochar treatment gave the best height growth at p = 0.05,and 25%v showedthe best stem diameter growth but not statistically significant. Even though it was not statistically significant, low-level biochar application(up to 5%v) on spodosols soils improved plant survival. Basedon the results of this preliminary on the effect of biochar application on plant growth and survival on spodosols soils, it is concluded that: (1) the application of biochar on such soils might be promising and (2) the development of biochar as main media for raising seedling in nursery might also be beneficial.