EFFECT OF TECTONA GRANDIS BIOCHAR ON SOIL QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AND YIELD OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L) IN HIGHLY-WEATHERED NITISOL, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the “Effect of Tectona grandis Biochar on Soil Quality Enhancement and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) in highly weathered Ultisol , Southeastern Nigeria” , Southeastern Nigeria. The study was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments (0 t ha−1, 2.1 t ha−1, 3.4 t ha−1, 4.7 t ha−1 and 6.0 t ha−1of biochar rates) and four replications. Data were collected from both soil and plant properties. Soil samples (0 to 20 cm) were collected before and at harvest from different plots for soil physical and chemical analyses. Results showed significantly increase (P