Optimizing the Use of Biochar in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Production in Nigeria.

• Autores: Funke Salami, Mercy, Mark, Miracle, Ibitomi, Olasumbo, Kikelomo Osasona, Kehinde, Adeniyi, Victor, Salami, Shakirat, Sulaiman, Hamdalat
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2023
• Institución: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina
• Repositorio: Revistas - Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina
• Lenguaje: inglés
• OAI Identifier: oai:revistas.lamolina.edu.pe:article/1999
• Enlace del recurso: https://revistas.lamolina.edu.pe/index.php/jpagronomy/article/view/1999
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: biocarbón; okra; producción; fertilidad del suelo; Nigeria; biochar; production; soil fertility

Soil fertility has been a challenge worldwide and increasing crop productivity is essential for food security. Consequently, to ameliorate this problem of low soil fertility, biochar is used. However, farmers are unaware of the optimal amount of Okra biochar dosage required, especially in Nigeria. This study, therefore, looked at the amount of biochar required to increase production and examined the effect of biochar on okra growth in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Treatments used were biochar at two different levels: 50 g.kg-1 and 100 g.kg-1 of soil (treatment 1 and treatment 2), - NPK at the rate of 0.08929 g.kg-1 of soil (treatment 3) and a control. The result showed that Okra planted with biochar grew significantly in height, weight, and number of fruits compared to those treated with NPK and Control with treatment 2 giving the best yield. We conclude that biochar contributes significantly to Okra growth and that the optimal amount required is 50 g·kg-1 of soil, we recommend that farmers use this dose to maximize the benefit of biochar.