Biochar rice research in Indonesia

Biochar as a carrier for Nitrogen plant Nutrition: 3. Effect of EnrichedBiochar on Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Yield and Soil Qualities 

 W. H. Utomo 1) , T. Islami 2) and, E. Wisnubroto 3) and H. T. Soelistyari 3) 
1) International Research Centre for Management of Degraded and Mining Land, University Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia. 
2) Research Centre for Tubers and Root Crops, University Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia, 
3) University Tribhuwana Tunggadewi, Malang, Indonesia. 

Abstract 
"A lot of studies have proven that biochar is a good soil amendment. With its high Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), it was hypothesized that biochar can be used as the carrier of nitrogen plant nutrient. A study was conducted to investigated the effect of nitrogen enriched biochar on the growth of rice (Oriza sativa L.). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with the treatment of enriched biochar (2 enriched materials and 2 types of biochar feedstuffs), and the rice was planted on several soil acidity. There was 21 treatments combination which arranged in a Fully Randomized Design with 3 replications. Measurements were done for rice growth, rice yield, and some soil chemical properties, i.e. soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, soil pH, and Cation Exchange Capacity. The experimental results show that biochar was a good carrier for nitrogen plant nutrition. The growth and yield of rice planted in enriched biochar soil was as good as the rice growing in urea treated soil, even it had a higher yield. Nitrogen enriched biochar increased the fertilizer efficiency. Ammonium is a better enriched material for biochar than nitrate. "