Effect of rice husk biochar in physicochemical properties of laterite soil in Bajra Napier hybrid

This study investigates the efficacy of rice husk biochar as a soil amendment to enhance the physicochemical properties of laterite soil, with implications for sustainable fodder production. A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, from September 2024 to July 2025. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments were, T₁- Biochar at 2.5 t ha^-1+ RDN+ ½ FYM, T₂- Biochar at 5 t ha^-1+RDN+ ½ FYM, T₃- Biochar at 7.5 t ha^-1+RDN+ ½ FYM, T₄- Biochar at 10 t ha^-1+ RDN+ ½ FYM, T₅-RDN (KAU POP), T₆- ½ FYM alone and T₇- Absolute control. Results demonstrated that biochar application significantly improved key soil parameters. The treatment with 10 t ha⁻¹ biochar (T₄) yielded the highest water holding capacity (46.33%) and increased soil pH from 5.53 to 6.95, mitigating soil acidity. Soil available potassium (100.72 kg ha⁻¹) was higher with 7.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar treatment (T₃), attributed to enhanced nutrient retention. However, bulk density and electrical conductivity were not significantly affected. The findings concluded that the integrated application of rice husk biochar at 7.5-10 t ha⁻¹ with organic and inorganic fertilizers is a promising strategy for ameliorating acidic laterite soils by improving water retention, reducing acidity, and boosting nutrient availability, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural productivity.