Efficacy of biochar in the management of Fusarium verticillioides Sacc. causing ear rot in Zea mays L.

Abstract Maize ear rot caused by Fusarium verticillioides (Fv) is a major disease associated with reduced grain yield and ear quality. The use of biochar in management of ear rot has not been established. Efficacy of biochar aganst the disease was therefore investigated. Efficacy of biochars produced from poultry faecal waste (Bpw) and sawdust (Bsd) against pathogenic Fusarium verticillioides (Fv) causing ear rot in maize was determined using biochar treatment combinations (Bpw, Bsd, Bpw + Bsd, Bpw + Fv, Bsd + Fv, Bpw + Bsd + Fv, Fv and control) as soil amendments. Additional treatments consisted of fungicide (Cibaplus), poultry feacal waste (Pw), sawdust (Sd), Bpw + Fungicide, Bsd + Fungicide, Bpw + Bsd + Fungicide, Fungicide + Fv, and Pw + Sd. The Bpw and Pw at 1, 2 and 3 kg/m2 each, Bsd and Sd (0.50, 1.00 and 1.50 kg/m2) and fungicide (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 g/L) were applied. Inoculation of pathogenic F. verticillioides strain was conducted at 7th week after planting and ear rot severity assessed at harvest. Residual effects of treatments were examined in the second season. Data gathered were subjected to ANOVA at α 0.05. Maize treated with Sd, Bpw and Bpw + Fungicide scored 1–3% severity; Bpw + Bsd, Bsd, Fungicide, Pw + Sd, Bsd + Fv, Bsd + Fungicide, Bpw + Bsd + Fungicide, Bpw + Fv, Bpw + Bsd + Fv and Fungicide + Fv scored 4–10 %. Severity rating for control and Pw was 11–25 % while Fv was 26–50 %. Poultry faecal waste and Bpw based treatments recorded significant impact on growth characters across varying concentrations compared to other treatments. Poultry faecal waste biochar and sawdust biochar were effective in the management of Fusarium ear rot of maize and could be used as soil amendments.