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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Physico"=Chemical Properties and Yield of Cucumber in a Degraded Ultisol Amended with Hardwood Biochar},pdfauthor={Charles Mbah, Emmannuel Attoe, Chukwuebuka Okolo},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2016: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Biochar, mineral fertiliser, organic inputs, small holder farmers},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 18-21, 2016, Vienna, Austria}}\\[1ex] \Large{``Solidarity in a competing world ---\\fair use of resources''\\[2ex]}}
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\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{Physico"=Chemical Properties and Yield of Cucumber in a Degraded Ultisol Amended with Hardwood Biochar\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Charles Mbah, Ebonyi State University, Soil Science and Environmental Management, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Nigeria, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{cnmbah10@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Charles Mbah$^{1}$, Emmannuel Attoe$^{2}$, Chukwuebuka Okolo$^{3}$}}
\end{center}
\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$Ebonyi State University, Soil Science and Environmental Management, Nigeria}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$Cross River State University of Technology, Dept. of Agronomy, Nigeria}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{3}$University of Mekelle, Dept. of Land Resources Mannagement and Environmental Protection, Ethiopia}}}
\end{itemize*}
\index[author]{Mbah, Charles}
\index[author]{Attoe, Emmannuel}
\index[author]{Okolo, Chukwuebuka}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
A study was conducted in two cropping seasons to assess the effect of biochar on soil physico"=chemical properties and yield of cucumber (\textit{Cucumis sativus} L) in an intensive cucumber---maize rotation system of Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria. Five rates of 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 randomised complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. Data were collected from  plant and soil parameters. Soil samples were collected before and at harvest from different plots for 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), pHand exchangeable bases (K\textsuperscript{+}, Ca\textsuperscript{2+}, Mg\textsuperscript{2+} 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 data indicated that biochar application could be a possible way of improving soil quality and native soil carbon in the degraded Ultisols and intensive cropping system of southeast Nigeria
.}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Biochar, mineral fertiliser, organic inputs, small holder farmers
\index[key]{Biochar}
\index[key]{Mineral fertiliser}
\index[key]{Organic!inputs}
\index[key]{Smallholders}
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