Assessing the Optimum Harvesting Stage of Tithonia diversifolia as Climate Smart Soil Amendment for Coconut Plantations

Tithonia diversifolia is often grown as a cover crop or as a green manure crop in climate-smart agriculture practices. This plant can be harvested at various growth stages, and the biomass can be incorporated into the soil. The decomposition of plant biomass enhances the soil’s nutrients, organic ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology and life sciences forum 2023-11, Vol.30 (1), p.1
Main Authors: Tharindu D. Nuwarapaksha, Wimarshani K. Dissanayake, Wasantha S. Gunathilaka, Shashi S. Udumann, Nuwandhya S. Dissanayaka, Anjana J. Atapattu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biochar
climate smart agriculture
feedstock
green manure
growth stages
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Tithonia diversifolia is often grown as a cover crop or as a green manure crop in climate-smart agriculture practices. This plant can be harvested at various growth stages, and the biomass can be incorporated into the soil. The decomposition of plant biomass enhances the soil’s nutrients, organic matter content, and crop productivity. This study aimed to determine the best harvesting stage of T. diversifolia to be used as an efficient soil amendment for coconut plantations. Samples were collected at one-, two-, three-, and four-month harvesting stages from an existing T. diversifolia field at Rathmalagara Research Station of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. In the study, both plant-growth parameters and the nutrient composition of each plant part were individually evaluated for every section of the plant. Biochar was prepared from hardwood stems of T. diversifolia using them as the feedstock under five different temperatures from 300 ℃ to 700 ℃, and a proximate analysis was performed for the characterization of produced biochar. The mean values of measured parameters of T. diversifolia and the properties of biochar were significantly different (p < 0.05) at different growth stages and temperatures, respectively. Considering all the measured parameters of T. diversifolia, the three-month harvesting stage can be suggested as the best growth stage for it to be used as green manure. According to the proximate-analysis results, and by observing the half-burning of produced biochar, 500 ℃ can be proposed as the ideal temperature to produce biochar from hardwood stems.
ISSN:2673-9976
DOI:10.3390/IOCAG2023-15967