Biochar and poultry litter compost: Impact on soil fertility and production of corn AG1051

Abstract

The sustainability of agricultural production has been demonstrated to be progressively associated with the use of organic fertilizers to improve soil properties and crop production. In this study, the effects of biochar and organic compost, both derived from poultry litter, on soil nutrient availability and the growth and production of the corn cultivar AG1051 were evaluated. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design, with ten treatments, including different doses of biochar and organic compost (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 t ha–1) and three replications. Soils from different treatments were placed in pots (20 kg per pot) and incubated. After incubation, samples taken from all experimental units were subjected to chemical analysis. At the end of the plant growth cycle, the properties of plants, except for ear development, were investigated, and then, to determine the dry mass of leaves and the stalk, plant samples were placed in an oven at 65 °C. The results indicated that organic compost produced from poultry litter was added at 10 t. ha–1 increased the concentrations of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), hydrogen (H), and the sum base cations in the soil and enhanced soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), promoting the growth and production components of corn plants, compared to biochar. However, future studies should focus on the residual effects of such organic amendments, and a techno-economic analysis also needs to be performed to predict the conversion of different compounds into biochar. © 2025, Federal University of Lavras. All rights reserved.