Under field conditions, the effect of biochar and mycorrhizae applications on maize growth and soil carbon emissions

The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between carbon binding to soil, reduction of CO2 emission and collation for all of these by applying mycorrhizae with different doses of biochar to the maize plant. The experiment was established as a randomize design in split plots in 2018 in Cukurova University, Research and Application Area, Adana. In the study, four different dose of biochar (Control (0%,), 1%, 2%, and 4%) were applied with and without mycorrhiza (+M and –M) inoculation. Mix mycorrhiza was applied 160 kg N ha-1, 83 kg K ha-1 and 26 kg P ha-1 were used as mineral fertilizers. DKC7211 maize (Zea mays L.) cultivar was used as a plant material. At the harvest, different plant parts (root, root parts and cobs) and different rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil depths (0-15cm and 15-30cm) were sampled, N, P, K, Ca and Mg content of plant parts, root length, volume, diameter, area, specific root lengths, root infection well as soil organic carbon (OC), inorganic carbon (IC) content were performed Obtained results shown that biochar application and mycorrhizal inoculation increased the plant macro element concentration, yield, soil CO2 respiration, Total Carbon (TC) and soil Organic Carbon (OC) content. With the application of mycorrhiza, a higher yield was obtained with an increase of 5.1% and 527 kg ha-1. As a result, soil biochar application increased soil fertility and sustainability, while mycorrhiza increased plant growth. Keywords: Biochar, Mycorrhiza, Maize, CO2 release, Mineral nutrient uptak