Improving wheat productivity and soil quality through integrated phosphorous management with residual effect of biochar

An experiment was performed to investigate the effect of integrated phosphorus management with previously applied biochar at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during 2018-2019. The treatments comprised of two levels of biochar (10 tons ha(-1) and no biochar) and three sources of P {Farmyard manure, poultry manure, and an inorganic source di-ammonium phosphate}. The phosphorous sources were added in such a manner that 100, 75 and 50% of P were received from the organic sources and the remaining were obtained from the inorganic source and vice versa @ 100 kg P ha(-1). This experiment was much needed for our conditions to formulate the recommended organic and mineral fertilizers for our soil, because our famers uses mineral fertilizers without any specific calculation and time which degrade and erode the soil day by day. The experiment was designed in RCB and repeated three times. The size of plot was kept as 21 m(2) with strong ridges around each plot. Biological yield (7829 kg ha(-1)), grain yield (3200 kg ha(-1)), soil organic matter (1.71%), soil P. content (4.28 mg kg(-1)), straw P content (0.07%) and grain P. content (0.21%) were significantly greater with 10 tons ha(-1) of residual biochar treatment. However, more thousand grain weight (52.3 g), soil organic matter (2.05%), straw P. content (0.096%) and grain P. content (0.25%) were significantly enhanced with the application of 100% P from PM only whereas, biological yield (9789 kg ha(-1)) and grain yield (4334 kg ha(-1)) were enhanced with application of P as 50% from PM and 50% from DAP. Soil phosphorus was significantly increased with the application of FYM. These results suggested that addition of biochar at the rate of 10 tons ha(-1 )in the previous season along with 100% P from PM in the current season improved yield and yield components and soil physico-chemical properties and is therefore recommended for Peshawar valley. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.