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 investigate the 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. It followed Completely Randomized Design (CRD) applying six levels of treatments, i.e., 0, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 100%v of biochar, and three replications. The 100%v biochar treatment was aimed at investigating the potential of applying biochar for primary media in raising seedlings in the nursery as the replacement of the conventional media. Of those six levels of treatments, the 10%v biochar treatment gave the best height growth at p = 0.05, and 25%v showed the 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. Based on 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.