Biochars influence sweet-potato yield and nutrient uptake in tropical Papua New Guinea

Currently, the biomass of an invasive and obnoxious weed, kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica), is uncontrollably burnt in Papua New Guinea in subsistence farming systems resulting in unwarranted negative environmental consequences. We explored the possibility of sustainable utilization of biochar produced from the weed biomass along with a standard feedstock-rice husk (Oryza sativa). Biochars were produced with lab-scale pyrolysis at 550 degrees C, characterized for chemical properties and plant nutrient composition. Further, agronomic efficacy of soil incorporation of biochars (5 t ha(-1)) or co-applied with mineral fertilizers (100, 11, and 62 kg ha(-1) N, P, K, respectively) was tested for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) in a field experiment. The two biochars differed significantly (P < 5%) with respect to recovery from the feedstocks, chemical characters and nutrient composition. Kunai grass biochar was poorer in nutrients (< 1%) with distinctly alkaline pH and higher electrical conductivity. Biochar amendment to soil showed significant (P < 5%) improvement of soil moisture, while co-application of biochars along with mineral fertilizers showed soil moisture decrease. Biochar amendment improved the growth parameters and total tuber yield of sweet potato by about 20%, while co-application with mineral fertilizers augmented total tuber yield by 100% and above-ground biomass yields by > 75%. Besides, improving agronomic performance of sweet potato crop, co-application of biochars with mineral fertilizers enhanced uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S. Production and utilization of biochar in sweet-potato production could offer an efficient means of disposing biomass of kunai grass with concomitant productivity improvement in Papua New Guinea.