Assessment of Biochar Effects on Essential Nutrient Uptake in Chickpea Under Field Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2021–22 at ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kalaburagi, to assess the effects of biochar on essential nutrient uptake in chickpea under field conditions. The study employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments: absolute control, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) alone, biochar at 2 t ha⁻¹, biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹, 50% RDF + biochar at 2 t ha⁻¹, 50% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹, 100% RDF + biochar at 2 t ha⁻¹, and 100% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations were observed among the treatments. The application of 100% RDF combined with biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹ resulted in the highest nutrient concentrations in both grain and stover—nitrogen at 3.62% and 1.25%, phosphorus at 0.51% and 0.30%, and potassium at 1.31% and 1.69%, respectively. In contrast, the absolute control recorded the lowest nutrient concentrations. The same treatment (100% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹) also resulted in the highest nutrient uptake, with nitrogen uptake of 52.01 kg ha⁻¹ in grain and 22.10 kg ha⁻¹ in stover, phosphorus uptake of 7.32 kg ha⁻¹ in grain and 5.26 kg ha⁻¹ in stover, and potassium uptake of 18.80 kg ha⁻¹ in grain and 29.88 kg ha⁻¹ in stover.