Effect of Biochar Addition on Rice (Oryza sativa L. var. INPARI 30 Ciherang Sub-1) Growth and Biomass Production using Recirculated Irrigation System

• Main Author: Athar Hafizhat Isbindra (11413051), Muhammad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/29147
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Nutrient leaching is one of the main causal factors of soil nutrient loss. Meanwhile, <br /> <br /> large amount of chemical-based fertilizer usage and rice water requirement further <br /> <br /> escalates the process. Nutrient deficiency in growing media, especially silica, has a <br /> <br /> significant impact on the decrease of rice productivity. Rice husk biochar is a silica <br /> <br /> rich substance that has the potential to improve soil structure, soil water retention <br /> <br /> and soil nutrient retention. This experiment was done by using 4 treatments. PI used <br /> <br /> growing media comprised of soil and biochar with 1:1 ratio while PII uses similar <br /> <br /> substances with 1:2 ratio respectively. PIII used growing media comprised of soil, <br /> <br /> compost and rice husk biochar with 2:2:1 ratio and PIV used similar substances <br /> <br /> with 1:2:2 ratio respectively. Irrigation was done by using recirculated irrigation <br /> <br /> system with 50% growing media field capacity diurnal dosage. Mean plant forage <br /> <br /> mass produced by PI, PII, PIII and PIV were 271,4, 222,3, 331,2 and 132,5 g, <br /> <br /> respectively. Concurrently, mean estimated productivity of PI, PII, PIII and PIV <br /> <br /> were 5,2, 2,9, 7,1 and 2,3 tons/ha/harvest, respectively. Forage nitrogen content per <br /> <br /> plant of PI, PII, PIII, and PIV were 1,79, 1,96, 1,99 and 0,97 g while forage silicon <br /> <br /> dioxide content per plant were 5,7, 6,2, 7,1 and 3,5 g. Mean growing medium water <br /> <br /> holding capacity of PI, PII, PIII, and PIV were 11.622, 14.417, 12.155 and 5.542 <br /> <br /> ml/pot, respectively. Biochar addition to the growing medium used by PIII <br /> <br /> (soil:compost:biochar with 2:2:1 ratio) accompanied by recirculated irrigation <br /> <br /> system heightened plant growth, plant biomass production, biomass nitrogen <br /> <br /> content, biomass silica content and enhanced water holding capacity of the medium. <br /> <br /> The treatment also decreases the nitrogen and silica content of excess water that <br /> <br /> have passed through the growing medium.