Willich, M. and Schiborra, A.K. and Quaranta, L. and Buerkert, A.
(2016)
Effects of charcoal-enriched goat manure on
soil fertility parameters and growth of pearl millet
(Pennisetum glaucum L.) in a sandy soil from northern Oman.
Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, 117 (2).
pp. 323-333.
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Abstract
The effect of charcoal feeding on manure quality and its subsequent application to enhance soil productivity has
received little attention. The objectives of the present study therefore were to investigate the effects of (i) charcoal
feeding on manure composition, and (ii) charcoal-enriched manure application on soil fertility parameters and growth
of millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). To this end, two experiments were conducted: First, a goat feeding trial where
goats were fed increasing levels of activated charcoal (AC; 0, 3, 5, 7, and 9% of total ration); second, a greenhouse
pot experiment using the manure from the feeding trial as an amendment for a sandy soil from northern Oman. We
measured manure C, N, P, and K concentrations, soil fertility parameters and microbial biomass indices, as well as
plant yield and nutrient concentrations. Manure C concentration increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 45.2%
(0% AC) to 60.2% (9% AC) with increasing dietary AC, whereas manure N, P, and K concentrations decreased
(P<0.001) from 0% AC (N: 2.5 %, P: 1.5 %, K: 0.8 %) to 9% AC (N: 1.7 %, P: 0.8 %, K: 0.4 %). Soil organic carbon,
pH, and microbial biomass N showed a response to AC-enriched manure. Yield of millet decreased slightly with AC
enrichment, whereas K uptake was improved with increasing AC. We conclude that AC effects on manure quality and
soil productivity depend on dosage of manure and AC, properties of AC, trial duration, and soil type.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Activated charcoal, goat manure, microbial biomass C, SOC, subtropical soils |
| Author Affiliation: |
Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, Universität Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany |
| Subjects: |
Plant Production |
| Divisions: |
Millet |
| Depositing User: |
Mr T L Gautham
|
| Date Deposited: |
09 Aug 2017 08:35 |
| Last Modified: |
09 Aug 2017 08:36 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/14922 |
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