ACTA SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE (ISSN: 2581-365X) Volume 3 Issue 2 February 2019 Effect of Biochar and Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Nutrient Accumulation of Rice and Vegetable in Two Contrast Soils Mahmudul Islam Piash 1,2 , Md Faruque Hossain 3 * and Zakia Parveen 2 1 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Barisal, Barisal, Bangladesh 2 Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh 3 American International University-Bangladesh, Ka-66/1, Kuril, Dhaka, Bangladesh *Corresponding Author: Md Faruque Hossain, American International University-Bangladesh, Ka-66/1, Kuril, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Research Article Received: November 06, 2018; Published: February 15, 2019 Abstract Keywords: Biochar; Fertilizer; Growth; Nutrient; Rice; Vegetables; Tropical Soils This study investigated the impact of Biochar and fertilizer, applied independently and simultaneously, on plant growth response and nutrient uptake from two contrasting tropical soils. One commonly cultivated winter vegetable (Amaranthus lividus) and a high yielding rice variety (BR-48) was grown on both the soils. Eight different treatments namely control, only fertilizer, three different biochars (farmyard manure, water hyacinth and domestic organic waste) with and without recommended fertilizer doses were used in the experiment. Soils with biochar treatments received 10 tons ha -1 of biochar. Results revealed that, Biochar treatments alone could enhance the yield of Data Shak 17 - 64% for Sara soil and 17 - 42% for Kalma compared to only fertilizer application. Farmyard manure biochar (FM) was most effective in case of Sara and Domestic organic waste biochar for Kalma. Synergistic effect of biochar and fertilizer was most prominent in terms of vegetable yield. Biochar and fertilizer applications had positive effects on N, P, K and S uptake however that varied with soil type. Farmyard manure Biochar significantly increased P uptake in vegetable and fertilizer application facilitated K intake at 1% significant level. Rice straw yield were significantly affected by fertilizer application. Synergistic effect of Biochar and fertilizer treatments increase the yield by 16 - 23% in Sara and 12 - 49% in Kalma compared to that of only fer- tilizer application. Only Biochar application sometimes caused reduction in yield, even from the control treatment. Effect of biochar and fertilizer treatments on macronutrient (N, P, S and K) uptake of rice plant was significant at 0.1% level at both the soils. Fertilized domestic organic waste biochar application facilitated highest N uptake in rice plants both in straw and grain. This highly significant uptake of nutrients could be due to the increased crop yield by biochar and fertilizer application together, which might be the best practice for tropical soils. Introduction Application of organic matter in the soils has been undoubtedly credited for better soil health and plant growth response all over the world, particularly in the tropical soils having comparatively lower organic matter content. However, the stability of applied or- ganic residues or compost highly varies with the soil it is applied on, molecular structure it has and the environmental and biologi- cal condition of the soil [1]. Acidic and highly weathered soils of tropical and sub-tropical regions are the place where favorable temperature and enhanced microbial activity restricts the stabil- ity of soil organic matter (SOM) [2]; which implies the need of a stable SOM form that could be sequestered in soil for substantially long period of time. Biochar, a highly stable and recalcitrant form of organic mat- ter produced by heating biomass in an oxygen limited condition and high temperature (pyrolysis) usually above 250°C [3] has been emerged as an option. Increased yield of crops has been reported by many studies [1-4] since biochar has been introduced as an ag- ronomic tool. Biochars liming effect, high water holding capacity and capability to increase crop nutrient availability might be the main actors behind the positive effects. However, the idea of in- corporating biochars in soil has an historical background. Modern day’s objective to use biochar in soils are mainly for the carbon se- questration purpose. Biochar can effectively sequestered in soil for hundreds to thousands of years [3]. In addition it can mitigate the agricultural emission of greenhouse gases [5], can be an effective Citation: Md Faruque Hossain., et al. “Effect of Biochar and Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Nutrient Accumulation of Rice and Vegetable in Two Contrast Soils”. Acta Scientific Agriculture 3.3 (2019): 74-83.