Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341819
Title: Crop response to biochar under differing irrigation levels in the southeastern USA

Author
item Lamb, Marshall
item Sorensen, Ronald - Ron
item Butts, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2018
Publication Date: 1/27/2018
Citation: Lamb, M.C., Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L. 2018. Crop response to biochar under differing irrigation levels in the southeastern USA. Journal of Crop Improvement. doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2018.1425791.

Interpretive Summary: Application of biochar to soils is hypothesized to increase crop yield. Crop productivity impacts of biochar application in Southeastern cropping systems consisting of peanut, corn, and cotton produced under varying rates of irrigation have not been addressed. The objective of this research is to incorporate biochar at two different rates into a long-term irrigation and cropping systems study to compare yield response of peanut, cotton, and corn. Biochar was applied at 10 and 20 tons per acre as subplots in an ongoing long term irrigation and cropping systems study at the USDA-ARS Multi-crop Irrigation Research Farm (Shellman, GA, 84' 36' W, 30' 44' N) on a Greenville fine sandy loam. Crops were produced under three sprinkler irrigation levels (100, 66, and 33%), shallow surface drip irrigation (100%), and a non-irrigated control. Significant main effects were found for year, irrigation, and year by irrigation. No differences resulted for the in corn or cotton. Peanut showed a significant yield response to biochar at the 20 ton per acre rate to the untreated control in non-irrigated production (95% confidence level) and in the 33% irrigated treatment (90% confidence level). No negative effects results for peanut, cotton, or corn. Producer adoption of biochar would primarily depend on monetary incentives related to carbon sequestration.

Technical Abstract: Application of biochar to soils is hypothesized to increase crop yield. Crop productivity impacts of biochar application in Southeastern cropping systems consisting of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) produced under varying rates of irrigation have not been addressed. This research incorporated biochar at two different rates into a long-term irrigation and cropping systems study to compare yield and quality response of peanut, cotton, and corn. Biochar was incorporated into soil once at the beginning of the 4-yr project at rates of 22.4 and 44.8 Mg ha-1. Peanut, corn, and cotton were produced under three sprinkler irrigation levels (100, 66, and 33%), shallow surface drip irrigation (100%), and a non-irrigated control. Crop input management followed best management practices and irrigation was scheduled by Irrigator Pro for Peanuts, Corn, and Cotton for sprinkler irrigation plots the 100% level with the 66% and 33% rates applied at the same timings. Significant year, irrigation, and year x irrigation effects for corn, cotton, and peanut yield resulted (P<0.001). However no differences resulted for the biochar interactions for corn (p=0.930) or cotton (p=0.678). Peanut showed a significant response to biochar comparing the 44.8 Mg ha-1 rate to the untreated control in non-irrigated production at the P=0.05 level and in the 33% irrigated treatment at the P=0.10 level. No negative yield effect resulted with biochar rates opening opportunities for biochar application Southeastern cropping systems for purposes related to carbon sequestration without compromising productivity of producers and related agricultural sectors.