Biochar and organic manures on produce quality, energy budgeting, and soil health in maize-black gram system

Experiment was conducted to assess the effect of combined application of biochar and organic manure amendment in an acidic hilly soil on grain quality, nutrient contents, biomolecular composition and biochemical response, and energy budgeting as well as soil quality under maize-black gram cropping system. Our results suggested that biochar application increased protein content. Lysine content decreased with manures addition and increase in biochar application rate. Hydration index, swelling index, water absorption capacity, and water uptake ratio increased in both the manures without biochar and manures with biochar. The seed density, foaming capacity, and foam stability increased significantly with addition of both manures without biochar and manures with biochar. Biochar application increased the nitrogenase activity. Manures without biochar application increased nodule relative water content and manures with biochar addition decreased nodule relative water content. Biochar application significantly decreased number of nodules per plant. Results revealed that protein, ash, tannin, C, N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B content significantly increased and enhanced by both the manures without biochar and manures with biochar. The nodule soluble sugars were increased by manures and biochar application. Both the manures and biochar significantly enhanced all the energy related terminology in maize and black gram crop. Results suggest that biochar application may affect the grain quality in maize and black gram adversely and nutritional imbalance in grains might occur.