Recycling of Mulberry Stalk as Biochar and its Effect on Uptake of Nutrients by Mulberry

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the mulberry crop to know the effect of soil application of mulberry stalk biochar on nutrients uptake by mulberry at farmer’s field at Sidlaghatta (Tq), Chikkabalapura District. A randomized block design was employed with eight treatments and three replications. A randomized block design was employed with eight treatments replicated thrice. Results revealed that, Combined soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T8) recorded higher leaf yield per hectare (13.07 t ha-1) and it was on par with T7 (12.61 t ha-1) which received soil application of biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1. The lowest leaf yield of 10.45 t ha-1 was recorded in control which was devoid of biochar. Among different treatments, significantly higher uptake of primary nutrients (Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 90.68, 9.07 and 47.10 kg ha-1, respectively) secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium and sulphur of 44.48, 17.26 and 9.75 kg ha-1, respectively) and micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper and boron of 748.20, 153.22, 139.34, 60.92 and 54.25 g ha-1, respectively) by mulberry were recorded in the treatment (T8) which received soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and followed by T7 which received biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and found superior over other treatments.  The control with no biochar application recorded lower nutrients uptake by mulberry crop. The findings revealed that utilization of mulberry stalk as a biochar has positive effect on nutrient uptake by mulberry crop and it could partly replace chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming in a circular economy concept.