The effects of biochar and animal manure application on soil chemical properties, nutrient uptake, growth, and biomass production of corn grown in strongly acidic soil were assessed in a pot experiment. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with the following treatments: (1)control; (2)15t chicken manure (CM) ha-1; (3)30t CM ha-1; (4)15t carabao dung (CD) ha-1; (5)30t CD ha-1; (6)15t chicken manure biochar (CMB) ha-1; (7)30t CMB ha-1; (8)15t carabao dung biochar (CDB) ha-1; (9)30t CDB ha-1. Application of 30t CM ha-1 significantly increased soil pH by 1.03-unit, total OC, total N, and exchangeable K by 138%, 300%, and 955%, respectively, and a 108-fold increase in P, over the control treatment. Similarly, the addition of CM at 15t ha-1 significantly increased all soil chemical parameters gathered. Moreover, the addition of 15t CM ha-1 increased plant height, shoot, and total biomass by 62%, 161%, and 148% over the control treatment. Meanwhile, tissue N uptake of corn increased by 147% and 124% with the CM application at the rate of 15t ha-1 and 30t ha-1. Among organic materials evaluated, CM had the most superior influence on soil chemical properties, growth, biomass production, and plant nutrition.
Key words: biochar, acidic soil, nutrient uptake, animal manure, soil fertility
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