Growth Responses and Yield of Two Varieties of Corchorus to Biochar and Organic Fertilizers as Soil Amendments

This study assessed the effects of biochar and organic fertilizers on the growth and yield of Corchorus varieties (NHCo-01 and NHCo-02). The treatments: two commercially available organic fertilizers coded A and B, biochar (C), and combination of all the three (D), each applied at 0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha⁻¹ two weeks before sowing. The experiment followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results showed that organic amendments significantly improved growth and yield compared to control. A at 15 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest yields, with 17.17 g/pot for NHCo-01 and 17.57 g/pot for NHCo-02. The yield ranking was A > D > C > B for NHCo-01 and A > C> D > B > Control for NHCo-02. Biochar enhanced NHCo-02 yield more than Apata fertilizer (B), suggesting varietal differences in nutrient uptake. Although the combination improved performance, it was less effective than A alone. This study highlights the importance of organic amendments for optimizing Corchorus growth and productivity, with A organic fertilizer emerging as the best amendment for both varieties.