EFFECT OF OIL PALM WASTE BIOCHARS ON FCV TOBACCO PRODUCTIVITY IN LIGHT TEXTURED ALFISOLS

Abstract

The sandy/ sandy loam Alfisols supporting FCV tobacco in Northern light soils (NLS) region of Andhra Pradesh have low native soil nutrient reserves and nutrient leaching problems require soil amendment like biochar that holds nutrients and meet the crop nutrient requirement. Oil palm plantations generate huge quantity of lignocellulosic biomass waste comprising oil palm empty fruit bunches (OEFB), oil palm fronds (OF) and oil palm trunks (OT) during oil extraction and cultivation that pose a major disposal problem. In general, these biomass generated from plantations are either unutilized or underutilized. Conversion of this oilpalm biomass waste into a biochar, a carbon – rich product, is an effective waste management approach for carbon sequestering, soil health improvement and enhancing crop productivity and soil quality. A field experiment with flue cured tobacco (Kanchan) was conducted for two consecutive years during rabi 2018-20 at CTRI-RS Jeelugumilli in NLS region. Pooled analysis results indicated that all the three biochars applied along with the 100% RDF significantly increased the yield compared to 100 % RDF alone. The highest green leaf yield (GLY) and cured leaf yield (CLY) was recorded with 100 % RDF + OEFB Biochar 1 t ha-1 with 12,409 kg ha-1 and 2,227 kg ha-1 GLY and CLY, respectively over 100 % RDF alone with 11268 kg ha-1 GLY and 2019 kg ha-1CLY. Application of OEFB Biochar has improved the potassium uptake and soil available potassium content. All the chemical quality parameters viz., nicotine, reducing sugars and chlorides were within the acceptable limits. Hence, oilpalm waste can be effectively converted into biochar and can be used as a soil amendment for FCV tobacco growing light textured Alfisols for improving the nutrient use efficiency thereby productivity, nutrient uptake and soil available potassium.