Effects of biochar and Cosmoroot on growth characteristics and yield of soybeans

Abstract

In crop production, chemical fertilizers address nutrient deficiencies but excessive use reduces soil fertility by lowering pH and inhibiting root elongation. Biochar and Cosmoroot can be used to improve soil health, plant growth, and yield. Soybeans, vital in Zambia for food, feed, and sustainable farming, were used as a test crop due to their role in boosting the economy and enhancing soil health. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of biochar and Cosmoroot on soybean growth characteristics. The experiment was conducted at Mulungushi University as a pot experiment in a greenhouse using the randomized complete block design layout. The treatments were the control, fertilizer alone, fertilizer + Cosmoroot, fertilizer + biochar and fertilizer + biochar + Cosmoroot. The parameters measured on soybeans were: the shoot height, shoot weight, shoot diameter at the base, taproot length, number of pods, number of flowers, root weight. Analysis of variance was used to compare the means while the least significant difference test at P=0.05 was applied to identify significant differences between pairs of groups. This experiment showed that both Cosmoroot and biochar, when applied alone, were effective in enhancing the growth parameters and yield of soybean. The combination of Cosmoroot and biochar showed a negative interaction, resulting in reduced plant growth and yield. Thus, both biochar and Cosmoroot may be recommended to be applied alone in the production of soybeans.