Abstract:
The field experiment was carried out to study the effect of biochar application on the growth and
yield of maize planted on the intercropping system with cassava plants. This research has been
done in agricultural land of Dampit, Malang, East Java. This study aims to improve soil fertility
and health through the application of biochar to intercropping maize and cassava. This research
is experimental research by using randomized Block Design with 4 replications. The treatment
consisted of 2 cropping system (maize monoculture and maize intercropped with cassava), and
3 biochar application (without biochar without nitrogen as the control, Nitrogen; Biochar;
Biochar plus Nitrogen). The results showed that application of nitrogen and biochar improved
maize growth and yield both in maize monoculture and intercropping system. Maize grown in
biochar treated soil was teller and grew faster than that of grown in non-biochar soil. This
maize plant had a higher dry matter and grain yield. The yield of maize grown in the
intercropping system in non-biochar treated soil was lower than that of grown in a monoculture
system. The highest grain yield was obtained by maize monocrop grown in biochar treated soil
(4.97 ton/ha) but did not significantly different from the intercropped maize treated biochar
(4.85 ton/ha). The control maize yielded only (2.94 ton/ha) grain yield. After harvesting maize,
the soil-applied with biochar possessed a higher soil pH, soil organic matter, soil cation exchange
capacity, and soil nitrogen content. Biochar application increases the efficiency of nitrogen
fertilization, both in maize monoculture and maize intercrop. |
