Effect of cation rich biochar and micronutrient blended inorganic fertilizer on rice yield in an acidic soil

This study investigatd the effect of rice husk biochar and sulfur (15) and Zinc (1Zn) blended inorganic fertilizer on rice yield in comparison to two treatments under normal farmers’ practice. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized block design in the field with four treatments and three replications. The treatments were control (CT), farmers normal practice with 5t/ha biochar (FPB), normal farmers practice (FP), and NPK fertilizer blended with Zn and S (NPKS). The experimental sites were Wushishi and Katcha local government of Niger State in Nigeria. At Wushishi the biochar application significantly affected the yield parameters better than the NPKS application. The Wushishi site recorded 35 % yield increase by the addition of the agro waste biochar compared to the farmers practice. The NPKS treatment performed better at Katcha site where it recorded 35 % increase in yield and 51% increase in straw biomass yield as compared to the farmer’s practice. The two treatments (biocolar and NPK fertilizer) gave better performance than the normal farmers practice. Farmers are therefore advised to conduct soil test before application of fertilizers for yield increase. Keywords. Acidity, biochar, micro nutrients, Niger State, rice, yield