Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, biochar particle size and rate of application on lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) nitrogen use and yield

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) efficient use of nitrogen (NUE) determines its growth and yield. We assessed the interaction effect N fertilizer biochar different particle sizes rates on NUE, yield lettuce. A factorial design arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications was used to conduct a field experiment at FRNR farm, Kwame Nkrumah University Science Technology, Ghana. The treatment consisted 8.33 t 16.67 ha−1 (<2, 5 10 mm) five (0, 31.3, 62.5, 93.83 125 kg ha−1) inorganic fertilizer. Our result showed that integrating <2 mm 62.5 93.8 kgN ha−1, respectively improved lettuce growth, NUE by 30% (19.3 obtained these applications is comparable achievable (20 under sole recommended rate (125 ha−1). In conclusion, biochar, farmers can reduce half (62.5 still attain good post-harvest soil fertility. This has implications for farmers’ production costs, agriculture waste management climate change mitigation strategies.