| Author's Name: |
O. M. Ibrahim, Bakry A. B., El kramany M.F, and Elewa T. A. |
| Subject Area: |
Life Sciences |
| Subject |
Agricultural |
| Section |
Research Paper |
Keyword:
wheat, Bio-char, Charcoal, water requirements
Abstract
The application of bio-char (charcoal or biomass-derived black carbon) to soil is proposed as a novel approach to improve soil fertility, improve soil water holding capacity and consequently water conservation, and to increase crop production of newly reclaimed sandy soil. To assess these benefits, two field experiments were carried out at the Research and Production Station of the National Research Centre, Al Nubaria district, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 winter seasons to study the effect of four levels of bio-char application (control, 2, 4, and 6 tons/feddan) and two levels of water requirements ((2000 m3/feddan (80%) and 2500 m3/feddan (100 %)) on growth, yield, and yield components of wheat (Misr 1). The results showed that at 75 days from sowing, flag leaf area (cm2), and proline were significantly affected by the two levels of water requirements, however, plant fresh weight (g), number of leaves/plant, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoides were not significantly affected. On the other hand the bio-char application did not significantly affect flag leaf area (cm2), number of leaves/plant, and carotenoides, however, it did significantly affect plant fresh weight (g), chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and proline. At the end of the experiment the two levels of water requirements did not significantly affect plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of spikelets/spike, biological yield (tons/fed.), straw yield (tons/fed.), and harvest index, however, number of grain/spike, grain weight/spike, and grain yield (tons/fed.) were significantly affected. Bio-char application did not significantly affect plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of spikelets/spike, and harvest index, however, number of grain/spike, grain weight/spike, biological yield (tons/fed.), grain yield (tons/fed.), and straw yield (tons/fed.) were significantly affected. Finally, the addition of bio-char at the rate of 4 tons/feddan could produce high grain yield and saving about 20% of water under sandy soil conditions of Egypt.