Sustainable valorization of corncob biochar as a slow-release fertilizer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31605/anjoro.v7i1.5836Keywords:
Cation exchange capacity, Fertilization efficiency, Nutrients, Pyrolysis, Soil propertiesAbstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of corn cob biochar as a slow-release organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize plants and to determine its optimal dosage for achieving this effect. The study used five biochar dosage treatments: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 t.ha–1, with three replicates each. The results showed that the application of biochar significantly affected the plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter. The highest dosage (20 tons.ha–1) produced the best values for these parameters. In terms of yield components, biochar had a significant effect on the weight of fresh-peeled cobs, whereas the number of cobs and cob length showed no significant differences among the treatments. Overall, a dose of 20 tons.ha–1 was recommended as the optimum dose under the conditions of this experiment. These findings confirm the potential of corn cob biochar as a sustainable organic fertilizer that can increase maize productivity through gradual nutrient release mechanisms.
References
1. Zanutel M, Garré S, Sanglier P, Bielders C. Biochar modifies soil physical properties mostly through changes in soil structure rather than through its internal porosity. Vadose Zo J. 2024;23(1):e20301.
2. Park J, Yun J, Kim S, Park J, Acharya BS, Cho J, et al. Biochar improves soil properties and corn productivity under drought conditions in South Korea. Biochar. 2023;5:66.
3. Tazebew E, Addisu S, Bekele E, Alemu A, Belay B, Sato S. Discover Sustainability Sustainable soil health and agricultural productivity with biochar ‑ based indigenous organic fertilizers in acidic soils: insights from Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. Discov Sustain. 2024;5:205.
4. Li C, Zhao C, Zhao X, Wang Y, Lv X, Zhu X, et al. Beneficial effects of biochar application with nitrogen fertilizer on soil nitrogen retention, absorption and utilization in maize production. Agronomy. 2023;13:113.
5. Altıkat A, Alma MH, Altıkat A, Bilgili ME, Altıkat S. A comprehensive study of biochar yield and quality concerning pyrolysis conditions: A multifaceted approach. Sustainability. 2024;16:937.
6. Fernandes BCC, Mendes KF, Júnior AFD, Caldeira VP da S, Teófilo TM da S, Silva TS, et al. Impact of pyrolysis temperature on the properties of eucalyptus wood-derived biochar. Materials (Basel). 2020;13:5841.
7. Khater ES, Bahnasawy A, Hamouda R, Sabahy A, Abbas W, Morsy OM. Biochar production under different pyrolysis temperatures with different types of agricultural wastes. Sci Rep [Internet]. 2024;14:2625. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52336-5
8. Vitha, Busri F, Nurawalia G, Nadia, Greis. Response of tomato growth and number of mycorrhizal spores applied with biochar on saline soil. Anjoro Int J Agric Bus. 2025;6(2):76–84.
9. Jatuwong K, Aiduang W, Kiatsiriroat T, Kamopas W, Lumyong S. Effects of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil health in Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra L.) cultivation. Microbiol Res (Pavia). 2024;15:404–21.
10. Liu Z, Wu X, Li S, Liu W, Bian R, Zhang X, et al. Quantitative assessment of the effects of biochar amendment on photosynthetic carbon assimilation and dynamics in a rice–soil system. New Phytol. 2021;232(3):959–1520.
11. Murtaza G, Usman M, Iqbal J, Tahir MN, Elshikh MS, Alkahtani J, et al. The impact of biochar addition on morpho-physiological characteristics, yield and water use efficiency of tomato plants under drought and salinity stress. BMC Plant Biol. 2024;24:356.
12. Hafez EM, Omara AED, Alhumaydhi FA, El-Esawi MA. Minimizing hazard impacts of soil salinity and water stress on wheat plants by soil application of vermicompost and biochar. Physiol Plant. 2021;172(2):587–602.
13. Khan I, Chen T, Farooq M, Luan C, Wu Q, Wanning D, et al. The residual impact of straw mulch and biochar amendments on soil physiochemical properties and yield of maize under rainfed system. Agron J. 2021;113(2):1102–20.
14. Kabir E, Kim KH, Kwon EE. Biochar as a tool for the improvement of soil and environment. Front Environ Sci. 2023;11:1324533.
15. Rivelli AR, Akram MZ, Libutti A. Woody biochar rate and water shortage impact on early growth stages of Chenopodium quinoa willd. Agronomy. 2024;14:53.
16. Toole AO, Moni C, Weldon S, Schols A, Carnol M, Bosman B, et al. Miscanthus biochar had limited effects on soil physical properties, microbial biomass, and grain yield in a four-year field experiment in Norway. Agriculture. 2018;8:171.
17. Trupiano D, Cocozza C, Baronti S, Amendola C, Vaccari FP, Lustrato G, et al. The effects of biochar and its combination with compost on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, soil properties, and soil microbial activity and abundance. Int J Agron. 2017;2017(i).
18. Vijay V, Shreedhar S, Adlak K, Payyanad S, Sreedharan V, Gopi G, et al. Review of large-scale biochar field-trials for soil amendment and the observed influences on crop yield variations. Front Energy Res. 2021;9:710766.
19. Hossain Z, Bahar M, Sarkar B, Bolan N, Donne S. Fertilizer value of nutrient-enriched biochar and response of canola crop. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2024;24(2):2123–37.
20. Premalatha RP, Bindu JP, Nivetha E, Malarvizhi P, Manorama K, Parameswari E, et al. A review on biochar ’s effect on soil properties and crop growth. Front Energy Res. 2023;30:1092637.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Suryansyah Surahman, Andriyana Gustam, Gilang Bayu Prawira, Andi Magfiranur
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
