Effects of Maize-Straw Biochar and NPK Fertiliser on Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Yield and Soil Loss During Harvesting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1017-5954Keywords:
Biochar, Soil Loss, Synergistic Effect, Conductivity, PodAbstract
Information on the effects of biochar on soil loss associated with groundnut harvesting remains limited. Hence, a 3 × 3 factorial field experiment arranged in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, consisting of three rates of maize-straw biochar (0, 3 and 6 t ha⁻¹) and NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser (0, 30 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹), was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, to examine the effects of biochar, NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser and their interaction on groundnut yield, soil loss associated with crop harvesting, soil nutrient loss and post-harvest soil physical properties. The results showed that biochar application did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect groundnut pod yield, specific soil loss due to crop harvesting (SLCHspec), total soil nutrient loss or post-harvest soil physical properties. NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser significantly (P < 0.05) affected groundnut pod yield and total soil loss due to crop harvesting (SLCHcrop), while the interaction between biochar and NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser significantly influenced groundnut pod yield and SLCHcrop. The highest pod yield (2.97 t ha⁻¹) was obtained from the combined application of 6 t ha⁻¹ maize-straw biochar and 0 kg ha⁻¹ NPK 15:15:15 fertiliser, whereas the highest SLCHcrop (8.13 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded under the same treatment combination. Biochar application produced numerical improvements in field capacity, bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The interaction between biochar and NPK fertiliser significantly influenced saturated hydraulic conductivity.
References
Bai, S. H., Omidvar, N., Gallart, M., Kämper, W., Tahmasbian, I., Farrar, M. B., Singh, K., Zhou, G., Muqaddas, B., Xu, C.-Y., Koech, R., Li, Y., Nguyen, T. T. N., & van Zwieten, L. (2022). Combined effects of biochar and fertilizer applications on yield: A review and meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 808, 152073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152073
Basak, B. B., Sarkar, B., Saha, A., Sarkar, A., Mandal, S., Biswas, J. K., Wang, H., & Bolan, N. S. (2022). Revamping highly weathered soils in the tropics with biochar application: What we know and what is needed. Science of the Total Environment, 822, 153461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153461
Edeh, I. G., Mašek, O., & Buss, W. (2020). A meta-analysis on biochar’s effects on soil water properties. New insights and future research challenges. Science of the Total Environment, 714, 136857.
Ewetola, E. A. (2020). Influence of induced soil compaction on the growth, the yield and the soil loss resulting from the groundnut harvesting. Journal of Tropical Soils, 25(3), 147–156. https://doi.org/10.5400/jts.2020.v25i3.147-156
Joseph, S., Cowie, A. L., Van Zwieten, L., Bolan, N., Budai, A., Buss, W., Cayuela, M. L., Graber, E. R., Ippolito, J. A., Kuzyakov, Y., Luo, Y., Ok, Y. S., Palansooriya, K. N., Shepherd, J., Stephens, S., Weng, Z., & Lehmann, J. (2021). How biochar works, and when it doesn’t: A review of mechanisms controlling soil and plant responses to biochar. GCB Bioenergy, 13(11), 1731–1764. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12885
Kuhwald, M., Busche, F., Saggau, P., & Duttmann, R. (2022). Is soil loss due to crop harvesting the most disregarded soil erosion process? A review of harvest erosion. Soil and Tillage Research, 215, 105213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105213
Orji, K. O., Chukwu, L. I., & Ogbu, M. E. (2022). Growth and yield responses of groundnut to different rates of NPK fertiliser at Umudike. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, 8(1), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-815X.000147
Oshunsanya, S. O., Samson, A. O., & Yu, H. (2022). Soil loss due to harvesting of peanut and cassava under traditional farming systems: Cost implications of soil nutrient loss. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 77(3), 240–248. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2022.00111
Oshunsanya, S. O., Yu, H., & Li, Y. (2018). Soil loss due to root crop harvesting increases with tillage operations. Soil and Tillage Research, 181, 93–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.04.003
Oshunsanya, S. O., Yu, H., Li, Y., & Saggar, S. (2019). Root hairs and cortex contribute to soil loss due to root crop harvesting. Catena, 174, 514–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.11.016
Panagos, P., Borrelli, P., & Poesen, J. (2019). Soil loss due to crop harvesting in the European Union: A first estimation of an underrated geomorphic process. Science of the Total Environment, 664, 487–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.009
Parlak, M., Everest, T., Tunçay, T., Caballero-Calvo, A., & Rodrigo-Comino, J. (2022). Soil losses due to leek and groundnut root crop harvesting: An unstudied regional problem in Turkey. Land Degradation & Development, 33(11), 1799–1809. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4262
Razzaghi, F., Obour, P. B., & Arthur, E. (2020). Does biochar improve soil water retention? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Geoderma, 361, 114055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114055
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Olabisi Esan, Gboyega Adebayo, Otun Abiodun Abass, Samuel Oluwatuyi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
