ORIGINAL PAPER
Assessing the impact of water stress and neem chip biochar application on soil properties, growth characteristics, and yield of Cucumis sativus L.
1
Department of Soil Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, 200005, Ibadan, Nigeria
Submission date: 2025-08-02
Final revision date: 2026-01-03
Acceptance date: 2026-05-11
Online publication date: 2026-05-11
Publication date: 2026-05-11
Corresponding author
George Oluwaseun Odugbenro
Department of Soil Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, 200284, Ibadan, Nigeria
Department of Soil Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, 200284, Ibadan, Nigeria
Soil Sci. Ann., 2026, 77(2)221697
KEYWORDS
Biochar amendmentCucumber yieldDrought stressSoil physical and chemical propertiesWater use efficiency
ABSTRACT
Modern agricultural farming faces significant challenges, particularly regarding efficient water use as water scarcity has become an increasingly pressing issue under changing climatic conditions. Biochar, an organic amendment, was explored to test whether it can improve water use efficiency and ultimately crop productivity. A glasshouse experiment arranged in a completely randomized design was used to determine the effect of neem-chip biochar on soil properties, growth characteristics, water use efficiency and cucumber yield under water stress conditions. It consisted of three levels of biochar (0, 15, and 30 ton ha-1) and three levels of water stress (50%, 75%, and 100% Field Capacity), resulting in nine treatments and three replications. Water stress levels did not affect soil bulk density or porosity, whereas increasing levels of biochar significantly reduced bulk density (F(2, 18) = 24.91, P < 0.001) and increased porosity (F(2, 18) = 16.58, P < 0.001). Biochar effectively regulated soil pH, increasing it from 7.28 to 7.86. Incremental biochar doses raised soil organic carbon (SOC) from 17.22 to 20.78 g kg-1, total nitrogen (TN) from 0.75 to 2.43 g kg-1, available phosphorus (P) from 24.6 to 40.0 mg kg-1, and exchangeable potassium (K) from 0.55 to 1.12 cmol kg-1. Water stress and its interaction with biochar had a significant effect (F(4, 18) = 3.37, P < 0.05) on exchangeable K. Water stress notably impacted leaf development, vine elongation, and stem girth increase, with optimum water availability at 100% Field Capacity promoting greater growth and development. Furthermore, biochar statistically increased cucumber fruit yield (g plant-1) under moderate water stress by 186% (F(2, 18) = 9.42, P < 0.01), with a higher water-use efficiency. This study showed that biochar application offers a great potential to improve the growth and yield of cucumber under moderate water stress conditions.
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