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Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds

Received: 19 June 2014     Accepted: 8 July 2014     Published: 30 October 2014
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Abstract

Although there has been an increased focus on the use of biochar for improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change, some biochars have been reported to contain substances that affect germination and seedling growth negatively. It is therefore necessary to evaluate any biochar material for its effect on seed germination before large scale applications. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the effects of (i) biochar derived from maize stover on maize seed germination and (ii) biochar derived from rice straw on rice seed germination. Seeds of maize (Zea maize L.) and rice (Oryza sativa) were sown separately to soils treated with increasing levels of biochar derived from maize and rice residues respectively. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design involving five biochar treatments: 0 g (control), 1.25g, 2.50g, 3.75g and 5.00g each mixed with 300g of a fine sandy loam soil in Sierra Leone. Results of the germination test showed that most of the maize seeds (>80%) germinated by day3 and there was no significant difference in the number of maize seeds germinated on day 7. On the other hand, few rice seeds germinated on day3 (35%) and was significantly greater than the number of the rice seeds (>90%) germinated on day 7. However, even though the number of maize or rice seeds germinated on biochar treated soils was higher than the control, the difference was not significant. Also, no significant differences in root lengths were observed between the control and biochar treatments at day 7 for both plants. However, maize shoot length differed significantly from the control whereas rice shoot length did not. The results showed that sowing seeds of maize and rice on soils treated with biochar derived from their crop residues had no adverse effect on germination. These findings hold great potential for improved and sustainable maize and rice cultivation in Sierra Leone.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12
Page(s) 246-249
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Biochar, Rice Straw, Maize Stover, Germination

References
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[13] G. K. Roberts, B. A. Gloy, S. Joseph, N. R. Scott, and J. Lehmann. Life cycle assessment of biochar system: estimating the enegetic, economic, and climate change potential. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44:827-833, 2010.
[14] K. Jones, A. Stewart. Dioxins and furans in sewerage sludges: a review of their occurrence and sources in sludge and of their environmental fate, behaviour, and significance in sludge-amended agricultural systems. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology /27: 1-85, 1997.
[15] A.I. Piotrowicz-Cieslak, B. Adomas, D.J. Michal-Czyk. Different glyphospate phytotoxicity to seeds and seedlings of selected plant species. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 19 (1), 123, 2010
[16] X.D. Cao, L.N. Ma, B. Gao, W. Harris. 2009. Dairy-Manure Derived Biochar Effectively Sorbs Lead and Atrazine. Environmental Science & Technology 43, 3285-3291.
[17] H. F. Free, C. R. McGill, J. S. Rowarth, M. J. Hedley. The effect of biochars on maize (Zea mays) germination', New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 53: 1, 1-4, 2010.
[18] Z. M. Solaiman, D. V. Murphy, L. K. Abbott. 2012. Biochars influence seed germination and early growth of seedlings. Plant and Soil, 353 (1-2), 273-287.
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  • APA Style

    Alie Kamara, Abibatu Kamara, Mary Mankutu Mansaray, Patrick Andrew Sawyerr. (2014). Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2(6), 246-249. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12

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    ACS Style

    Alie Kamara; Abibatu Kamara; Mary Mankutu Mansaray; Patrick Andrew Sawyerr. Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds. Am. J. Agric. For. 2014, 2(6), 246-249. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12

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    AMA Style

    Alie Kamara, Abibatu Kamara, Mary Mankutu Mansaray, Patrick Andrew Sawyerr. Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds. Am J Agric For. 2014;2(6):246-249. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12,
      author = {Alie Kamara and Abibatu Kamara and Mary Mankutu Mansaray and Patrick Andrew Sawyerr},
      title = {Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {246-249},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20140206.12},
      abstract = {Although there has been an increased focus on the use of biochar for improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change, some biochars have been reported to contain substances that affect germination and seedling growth negatively. It is therefore necessary to evaluate any biochar material for its effect on seed germination before large scale applications. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the effects of (i) biochar derived from maize stover on maize seed germination and (ii) biochar derived from rice straw on rice seed germination. Seeds of maize (Zea maize L.) and rice (Oryza sativa) were sown separately to soils treated with increasing levels of biochar derived from maize and rice residues respectively. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design involving five biochar treatments: 0 g (control), 1.25g, 2.50g, 3.75g and 5.00g each mixed with 300g of a fine sandy loam soil in Sierra Leone. Results of the germination test showed that most of the maize seeds (>80%) germinated by day3 and there was no significant difference in the number of maize seeds germinated on day 7. On the other hand, few rice seeds germinated on day3 (35%) and was significantly greater than the number of the rice seeds (>90%) germinated on day 7. However, even though the number of maize or rice seeds germinated on biochar treated soils was higher than the control, the difference was not significant. Also, no significant differences in root lengths were observed between the control and biochar treatments at day 7 for both plants. However, maize shoot length differed significantly from the control whereas rice shoot length did not. The results showed that sowing seeds of maize and rice on soils treated with biochar derived from their crop residues had no adverse effect on germination. These findings hold great potential for improved and sustainable maize and rice cultivation in Sierra Leone.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effects of Biochar Derived from Maize Stover and Rice Straw on the Germination of their Seeds
    AU  - Alie Kamara
    AU  - Abibatu Kamara
    AU  - Mary Mankutu Mansaray
    AU  - Patrick Andrew Sawyerr
    Y1  - 2014/10/30
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 246
    EP  - 249
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140206.12
    AB  - Although there has been an increased focus on the use of biochar for improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change, some biochars have been reported to contain substances that affect germination and seedling growth negatively. It is therefore necessary to evaluate any biochar material for its effect on seed germination before large scale applications. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the effects of (i) biochar derived from maize stover on maize seed germination and (ii) biochar derived from rice straw on rice seed germination. Seeds of maize (Zea maize L.) and rice (Oryza sativa) were sown separately to soils treated with increasing levels of biochar derived from maize and rice residues respectively. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design involving five biochar treatments: 0 g (control), 1.25g, 2.50g, 3.75g and 5.00g each mixed with 300g of a fine sandy loam soil in Sierra Leone. Results of the germination test showed that most of the maize seeds (>80%) germinated by day3 and there was no significant difference in the number of maize seeds germinated on day 7. On the other hand, few rice seeds germinated on day3 (35%) and was significantly greater than the number of the rice seeds (>90%) germinated on day 7. However, even though the number of maize or rice seeds germinated on biochar treated soils was higher than the control, the difference was not significant. Also, no significant differences in root lengths were observed between the control and biochar treatments at day 7 for both plants. However, maize shoot length differed significantly from the control whereas rice shoot length did not. The results showed that sowing seeds of maize and rice on soils treated with biochar derived from their crop residues had no adverse effect on germination. These findings hold great potential for improved and sustainable maize and rice cultivation in Sierra Leone.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Soil Science Department, School of Agriculture, Njala Campus, Njala University, Sierra Leone

  • Extension Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Sierra Leone

  • Extension Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Sierra Leone

  • Soil Science Department, School of Agriculture, Njala Campus, Njala University, Sierra Leone

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