Abstract
A study was conducted in two consecutive cropping seasons to assess the effect of biochar on soil properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) in an intensive cucumber–maize rotation based system of Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria. Five rates of hardwood biochar (0, 2.5, 3.75, 5 and 6.25 t ha-1) were used for the study. The study was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. Data were collected from both soil and plant parameters. Soil samples (0 to 20 cm) were collected before and at harvest from different plots for soil chemical analyses. Results obtained from the study showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in soil properties. Bulk density (BD) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in biochar amended plots. Total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), pH and exchangeable bases (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in biochar amended plots relative to the control. Biochar application significantly (p<0.05) increased vine length, number of fruits, fruit length and yield of cucumber compared to the control. On average, 6.25 t ha-1 rate of biochar application gave the highest improvement in soil properties while highest increase in yield and other agronomic parameters were observed in 5 t ha-1 rate of application. The study recommended 5 t ha-1 as the maximum rate of biochar application in the study area. Our results indicated that biochar application could be a possible way of improving soil properties and native soil carbon in the degraded ultisols and intensive cropping systems. Key words: Mineral fertilizer, organic inputs, small holder farms, soil productivity, sustainable agriculture.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar decreased soil bulk density in cucumber plots.
- Taxon
- cucumber
Cucumis sativust0 - Treatment
- biochare0
- Outcome
- Bulk density (BD)e0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Setting
- Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeriae6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bulk density (BD) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in biochar amended plots”
e6“system of Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased total nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic carbon relative to the control.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- biochare1
- Outcome
- Total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C)e1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), pH and exchangeable bases (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in biochar amended plots relative to the control”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar increased pH and exchangeable bases relative to the control.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- biochare1
- Outcome
- pH and exchangeable bases (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+)e1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic carbon (C), pH and exchangeable bases (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in biochar amended plots relative to the control”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar application increased vine length, number of fruits and fruit length of cucumber compared to the control.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- Biochar applicatione2
- Outcome
- vine length, number of fruits, fruit lengthe2
- Direction
- increasede2
- Comparator
- controle2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Biochar application significantly (p<0.05) increased vine length, number of fruits, fruit length and yield of cucumber compared to the control”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar application increased cucumber yield compared to the control.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- Biochar applicatione2
- Outcome
- yield of cucumbere2
- Direction
- increasede2
- Comparator
- controle2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Biochar application significantly (p<0.05) increased vine length, number of fruits, fruit length and yield of cucumber compared to the control”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
The 6.25 t/ha biochar rate gave the highest improvement in soil properties.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- 6.25 t ha-1 rate of biochar applicatione3
- Outcome
- improvement in soil propertiese3
- Direction
- higheste3
- Value
- 6.25 t ha-1e3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“On average, 6.25 t ha-1 rate of biochar application gave the highest improvement in soil properties”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
The 5 t/ha biochar rate gave the highest increase in cucumber yield and other agronomic parameters.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Treatment
- 5 t ha-1 rate of applicatione4
- Outcome
- increase in yield and other agronomic parameterse4
- Direction
- higheste4
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“highest increase in yield and other agronomic parameters were observed in 5 t ha-1 rate of application”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend 5 t/ha as the maximum biochar application rate for cucumber in the study area.
- Taxon
- cucumberCucumis sativust0
- Outcome
- maximum rate of biochar applicatione5
- Value
- 5 t ha-1e5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“The study recommended 5 t ha-1 as the maximum rate of biochar application in the study area”
t0“Amelioration of a degraded ultisol with hardwood biochar: Effects on soil physico-chemical properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)”
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See all 8 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.