Effects of Mixture Biochar-Fertilizer With and Without Tableting on The Soil Chemical Characteristics

Application of biochar together with fertilizer is a promising strategy to minimize the loss of nutrient through surface runoff and leaching from agricultural field. Biochar has high surface area and can retain nutrients. Despite its advantages, low density of biochar leads to difficult in transporting, handling and mode of application. Our hypothesis is the densification of biochar with fertilizer could reduce transportation and handling costs and minimize loss of nutrient during soil application. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of mixture biochar-fertilizer with and without tableting on the soil chemical characteristics. There were four fertilization treatments including the control T1 (Soil), T2 (NPK), T3 (Biochar + NPK) and T4 (Biochar tablet embedded with NPK). Mineral clay soils were used and planted with maize. The soil chemical properties were determined for pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and cation exchange capacity after 53 days planting. The application of biochar tablet embedded fertilizer to soil shows the highest total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and lower available phosphorus after 53 days planting. The results suggest that the biochar tablet embedded with fertilizer is more efficient to minimize the losses of nutrients in soil.