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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp7 (2026): International Conference on Agricultural Sustainability

Effect of soil tillage and biochar application on soil fertility and sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata Sturt) production

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14348
Submitted
4 March 2026
Published
15-09-2026

Abstract

Effects of soil tillage systems and biochar application on soil fertility and sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata Sturt) production were evaluated under dryland conditions in Jabungan Village, Banyumanik District, Semarang, Indonesia, from January to March 2025. This study aimed to determine the effects of different tillage systems and biochar application rates, as well as their interaction, on soil fertility and sweet corn productivity. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three tillage treatments as the main plots: no tillage (T1), minimum tillage (T2) and maximum tillage (T3) and three biochar application rates as subplots: 3500 kg ha-1 (P1), 4000 kg ha-1 (P2) and 4500 kg ha-1 (P3). Each treatment combination was replicated four times. Data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at the 5 % significance level. The results indicated that minimum tillage significantly improved sweet corn productivity, particularly cob diameter and cob weight with husks. Biochar application at 4500 kg ha-1 increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) contents compared with lower application rates. Significant interactions between tillage and biochar treatments were observed for SOC, soil pH, total phosphorus (P), total potassium (K) and cob diameter, indicating that the effectiveness of biochar depended on the tillage system employed. The combination of minimum tillage and 4500 kg ha-1 biochar generally produced the most favourable responses in soil fertility parameters and sweet corn yield components. These findings suggest that integrating conservation-oriented tillage practices with biochar application can enhance soil quality and support sustainable sweet corn production in tropical dryland agroecosystems.

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