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Parthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed, produces a lot of non edible biomass that is hazardous to humans. This study provides an insight to its beneficial use by converting the biomass into value-added materials like compost and biochar and subsequent amendment in soil as fertilizer. The biochar was prepared in a locally fabricated charcolator while the compost was prepared in a rolling tumbler. Two-year field experiment was set up using different combinations of biochar (BC), compost (C) and commercial fertilizer (CF) in the rice-wheat cultivation system in Lahore, Pakistan to assess soil health and crops performance after characterizing the products using advanced analyses. GCMS analysis has revealed the presence of stigmasterol and campesterol (plant growth promoters) in prepared compost. Field data showed that the combined application of compost and biochar in rice and wheat fields significantly improved the characteristics of soil like SOM and CEC. Agronomic characteristics such as the number of grains per tiller, grain weight and biological yield were significantly higher in C + CF (half dose of each) and almost equal to CF in the first year. In the second year, both crops agronomic performance was considerably more evident and pronounced following the same pattern. All other agronomic features also followed the same pattern. Thus, mixed application of organic and inorganic fertilizer on recurrent basis is recommended to improve yield of wheat and rice along with soil amelioration in the rice wheat cultivation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable cotton production is under threat due to poor soil health, exhaustive nature of cotton crop in terms of depleting soil fertility and conventional farming practices. Hence, we investigated the role of soil amendments like biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers to improve the soil mineral nutrients uptake, cotton productivity and overall reduction in nutrients losses. Two year field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of soil amendment of biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers in improving the soil fertility and cotton productivity under arid climate of South-Punjab, Pakistan in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Experimental findings showed that highest values of soil available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and soil organic matter (SOM) were recorded with the soil incorporation of 5 Mg ha−1 poultry manure (PM) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK which was followed by soil incorporation of 10 Mg ha−1 farmyard manure (FYM) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK and soil incorporation of 3.5 Mg ha−1 biochar (BC) with 80:45:30 kg ha−1 NPK and ultimately improved soil fertility. Similarly, highest values of plant height, leaf area index (LAI), monopodial, sympodial branches and total bolls plant−1, boll weight, seed cotton and biological yield were recorded with amendment of 5 PM Mg ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 which was followed by 10 Mg FYM ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 and soil incorporation of 3.5 Mg BC ha−1 with 80:45:30 kg NPK ha−1 and ultimately improved cotton productivity. Conclusively, soil incorporation of biochar, poultry and farmyard manures with synthetic fertilizers as integrated nutrient management strategy might be a promising adaptation strategy for improving soil mineral nutrients uptake, cotton productivity and overall reduce the nutrients losses under arid environmental conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive and unwise use of synthetic fertilizers is a threat to the soil, aerial and human health. In this scenario, eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fertilizers for maximizing peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) production under arid regions are necessary. Use of biochar and the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) along with reduce doses of synthetic fertilizers has emerged as an eco-friendly way of reducing the dose of synthetic fertilizers for crop production. In this 2-year study, we evaluated the role of PGPRs and biochar with reduce doses of synthetic fertilizers on peanut productivity on a sandy loam soil under an arid climate. The experiment comprised of eight experimental treatments viz. (i) control, (ii) recommended dose of synthetic fertilizer (32-80-32 NPK kg ha−1), (iii) plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; SR-5), (iv) biochar (10 t ha−1), (v) PGPR + half dose of synthetic fertilizer (i.e., 16-40-16 NPK kg ha−1), (vi) biochar (10 t ha−1) + half dose of synthetic fertilizer, (vii) PGPR + biochar (10 tha−1) and (viii) PGPR + biochar (10 t ha−1) + half dose of synthetic fertilizer. The highest pod yield (1.94 Mg ha−1), seed yield (1110 kg ha−1) and oil contents (52.6%) were recorded when biochar was applied in combination with PGPRs with half dose of synthetic fertilizers which was attributed to a greater number of pods per plant and highest seed weight in this treatment. In crux, biochar application along with PGPRs might be a pragmatic option to boost peanut yield in arid regions with reduce doses of NPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]