Effects of Biochar and Rhizobium Inoculation on Selected Soil Chemical Properties, Shoot Nitrogen and Phosphorus of Groundnut Plants (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Sokoto State, Nigeria

The research was carried out to determine the effects of biochar and rhizobium inoculation on selected soil chemical properties, shoot N and P of groundnut plant. Two factors were used for this experiment; Biochar and rhizobium inoculation. Biochar was applied at the rate of 20 t ha-1, 10 t ha-1 and 0 t ha-1 while rhizobium was inoculated to groundnut seeds (inoculated [+] and un-inoculated [-]). The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design and replicated 3 times. Means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% level of significance. The results showed that 20 t ha-1 of biochar significantly (p<0.05) produced higher values of soil pH, OC, N, available P and Ca, than 10 t ha-1 and 0 t ha-1. No significant differences were observed in shoot P among biochar application rates. Rhizobium inoculation had significantly (p<0.05) increase the number of shoot N, soil N, P, K and Mg when compared with un-inoculated plants. It is recommended that 20 t ha-1 should be used for improvement of soil chemical properties while inoculation with rhizobia may be more effective in the presence of biochar due to the habitat offered by the biochar.