@article{fdi:010068276,
  title = {{I}mproving the fertility of tropical acid soils : liming versus biochar application ? {A} long term comparison in the highlands of {M}adagascar},
  author = {{R}aboin, {L}. {M}. and {R}azafimahafaly, {A}. {H}. {D}. and {R}abenjarisoa, {M}. {B}. and {R}abary, {B}. and {D}usserre, {J}. and {B}ecquer, {T}hierry},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}oil acidity is a major constraint for crop production on highly weathered tropical soils characterized by high {A}l toxicity, low cation exchange capacity and low {P} availability to plants. {T}o address these constraints, we compared the effects on crop production and soil properties of liming and adding biochar. {E}xperiments were conducted under field conditions in an acidic soil in the {M}adagascar highlands using a two year rotation of maize intercropped with beans followed by rainfed upland rice over a period of six years. {F}ive different levels of amendment were compared: 10 and 50 t ha(-1) of eucalyptus charcoal residues (referred to as biochar), 1 and 3 t ha(-1) of dolomite and a control (no amendment). {T}hey were combined with two types of soil management (conventional tillage and no tillage) and two fertilization levels. {S}oil characteristics were measured once after five years. {B}oth biochar and dolomite amendment significantly improved yields of the maize and beans due to an increase in soil p{H} and a decrease in exchangeable aluminium. {H}owever, no significant effect was observed on the yield of upland rice. {T}he incorporation of 50 t ha(-1) of biochar was necessary to match the results obtained with 3 t ha(-1) of dolomite. {A}mendment with dolomite was a more practical and cost-efficient option than amendment with biochar in our conditions. {L}ong term trials are now needed to evaluate other types of biochar.},
  keywords = {{B}iochar ; {C}harcoal ; {L}iming ; {D}olomite ; {A}cid soils ; {A}luminium toxicity ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}ield {C}rops {R}esearch},
  volume = {199},
  numero = {},
  pages = {99--108},
  ISSN = {0378-4290},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.fcr.2016.09.005},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068276},
}