Randomized block study reveals reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved crop yields in rainfed paddy fields, suggesting climate-resilient soil management.
Key Points
To assess the effect of corn cob biochar applied as a urea coating or combined with compost on methane and nitrous oxide emissions and rice yield in rainfed paddy fields.
Conducted a field trial in rainfed paddy fields in Central Java, Indonesia, using a randomized block design with three treatments and four replicates.
Applied corn cob biochar as biochar-coated urea (BCU) and as biochar combined with compost, comparing both against conventional farmer practices.
Monitored 'Ciherang' rice growth parameters, final grain yield, daily methane (CH4) flux, and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux.
Grain yield increased by 29.2% with biochar-coated urea and by 11.9% with the biochar-compost combination relative to conventional practice.
Biochar-coated urea and biochar-compost reduced daily CH4 flux by 97.7% and 93.2%, respectively.
Biochar combined with compost produced a greater reduction in N2O flux compared to biochar-coated urea and conventional practice.