Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research

Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research

Investigating the effect of biochar and humic acid application on nutrient content and grain yield of chickpea

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Hamid Naseri nejad 1
Masoumeh Naeemi 1
Ali Nakhzari Moghaddam 2
Mehdi Zarei 3
1 crop production, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Gonbad Kavous University
2 Crop Ecology Department of Plant Production College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Gonbad Kavous University Golestan, Iran
3 Department of Plant Production College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Gonbad Kavous University Golestan, Iran
10.22059/ijswr.2025.382702.669796
Abstract
To investigate the effect of humic acid and biochar application on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research farm of Gonbad Kavous University during the 2018-2019 growing season. The factors studied included biochar at two levels (no application and application of 20 tons per hectare) and humic acid at three levels (no application, application with irrigation water at a concentration of 10 kg per hectare, and application with irrigation water along with two foliar applications at a concentration of 250 cc in 100 liters of water). The results showed that the main effects of biochar and humic acid on various traits, including the number of seeds, total plant weight, 100-seed weight, harvest index, grain yield, and levels of nitrogen, protein, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, were significant. Additionally, the interaction effect of these two factors on 100-seed weight, harvest index, and grain yield was significant. The use of humic acid and biochar improved all the traits studied. The highest grain yield (2983 kg.ha-1) was obtained from the treatment of humic acid application once in the soil and twice as foliar spray along with biochar, while the lowest grain yield (1368 kg.ha-1) was related to the treatment without humic acid and biochar application. Moreover, the highest protein and nitrogen content and the concentrations of calcium, potassium, and magnesium were observed in the treatment with humic acid and biochar application. Therefore, for increasing the yield of chickpea, it is recommended to use humic acid once in the soil and twice as foliar spray along with biochar.
Keywords
biochar
chickpea
grain protein
humic acid
Subjects

Introduction

To investigate the effect of humic acid and biochar on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the farm of Gonbad Kavous University during the 2018-2019 growing season. The study aimed to assess how different levels of biochar and humic acid applications influence the growth, yield, and nutrient composition of chickpea plants.

Objectives

 The factors studied included biochar at two levels (no application and application of 20 tons per hectare) and humic acid at three levels (no application, application with irrigation water at a concentration of 10 kg per hectare, and application with irrigation water along with two foliar applications at a concentration of 250 cc in 100 liters of water). The main objective was to determine how these treatments affect key agronomic traits such as the number of seeds per plant, total plant weight, 100-seed weight, harvest index, grain yield, and the content of essential nutrients like nitrogen, protein, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Materials and Methods

The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The biochar was applied at a rate of 20 tons per hectare, while the humic acid was applied in three different ways: no application, application with irrigation water at 10 kg per hectare, and application with irrigation water plus two foliar applications at 250 cc in 100 liters of water. These treatments were aimed at evaluating their individual and combined effects on the growth and nutritional quality of chickpea plants.

Results

The results showed that the main effects of biochar and humic acid were significant on various traits. The application of biochar and humic acid individually improved the number of seeds per plant, total plant weight, 100-seed weight, and harvest index. Specifically, the application of biochar at 20 tons per hectare significantly increased the number of seeds, total plant weight, and 100-seed weight compared to the control. Similarly, humic acid application, especially when combined with both soil and foliar treatments, led to marked improvements in plant growth and grain yield.

The interaction effect of biochar and humic acid was also significant on several traits. The combined application of biochar and humic acid resulted in the highest improvements. The treatment involving humic acid application once in the soil and twice as a foliar spray along with biochar yielded the highest grain yield of 2983 kg/ha. In contrast, the lowest grain yield of 1368 kg/ha was observed in the treatment without any humic acid or biochar application. In terms of nutrient composition, the highest protein and nitrogen content, along with the highest concentrations of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, were recorded in the treatment with both humic acid and biochar. This indicates that these amendments not only enhance growth and yield but also improve the nutritional quality of chickpea plants.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the integrated use of humic acid and biochar is highly effective in enhancing the growth, yield, and nutrient content of chickpea. The recommended practice for achieving optimal results is to apply humic acid once in the soil and twice as a foliar spray in combination with biochar at 20 tons per hectare. This approach can significantly boost chickpea production and improve its nutritional value, making it a valuable strategy for farmers aiming to increase productivity and crop quality. Further research could explore the long-term effects of these amendments and their impact on soil health and sustainability.

Author Contributions

Masoumeh Naeemi and Mehdi Zarei conceived of the presented idea and developed the theory and the computations. Hamid Naseri Nejad and Ali Nakhzari Moghadam carried out the experiment. Masoumeh Naeemi verified analytical methods and performed the computations. Ali Nakhzari Moghadam investigated and supervised the findings of this work. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript, but Masoumeh Naeemi wrote the final version of manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. All authors contributed according their name place to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Data is available on request from the authors.

 

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the research council of Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran for the financial support of this research.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 56, Issue 3
May 2025
Pages 807-823