Agbede Taiwo Michael
Department of Agronomy, Adekunle Ajasin University, P.M.B. 001, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 8;15(1):8084. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91844-w.
A screen house experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tithonia diversifolia biochar on selected soil physicochemical properties. The study included five treatments with Tithonia diversifolia biochar applied at rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha, arranged in a completely randomised design with three replicates. Surface soil (0-15 cm depth) from the Iwo soil series (sandy loam) was collected from the Teaching and Research Farm of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Each 10 kg soil sample was thoroughly mixed with the respective biochar rate and maintained at field moisture capacity for four weeks in the screen house before sowing broccoli seeds. Soil samples were analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density, porosity, moisture content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Agronomic parameters measured included broccoli height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, and fresh weight of broccoli biomass. Leaf nutrient concentrations of broccoli were also determined. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and significant means were separated using Duncan's multiple range test at p = 0.05. Results indicated that biochar-amended plots significantly improved soil physicochemical properties compared to the control. Biochar application also significantly increased broccoli height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, leaf nutrient concentrations, and fresh weight of broccoli biomass. The application of tithonia biochar at rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha increased the fresh weight of broccoli biomass by 13%, 38%, 26%, and 23%, respectively, compared to the control. The application rate of 20 t ha was found to be the most beneficial, enhancing leaf nutrient concentrations and growth parameters. This study recommends the use of Tithonia diversifolia biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil quality of sandy loam and enhance broccoli productivity and quality.
进行了一项网室试验，以评估肿柄菊生物炭对选定土壤理化性质的影响。该研究包括五种处理，分别以0、10、20、30和40吨/公顷的速率施用肿柄菊生物炭，采用完全随机设计，重复三次。从尼日利亚翁多州阿孔巴-阿科科阿德昆勒·阿贾辛大学教学与研究农场采集伊沃土壤系列（砂壤土）的表层土壤（0-15厘米深度）。将每个10千克的土壤样品与各自的生物炭速率充分混合，并在网室内保持田间持水量四周，然后播种西兰花种子。分析土壤样品的粒度分布、容重、孔隙度、含水量、pH值、有机碳、全氮、有效磷、交换性钾、钙和镁。测量的农艺参数包括西兰花高度、叶片数量、叶面积、茎周长和西兰花生物量鲜重。还测定了西兰花叶片养分浓度。对数据进行方差分析，并使用邓肯多重范围检验在p = 0.05时分离显著均值。结果表明，与对照相比，生物炭改良地块显著改善了土壤理化性质。施用生物炭还显著增加了西兰花高度、叶片数量、叶面积、茎周长、叶片养分浓度和西兰花生物量鲜重。与对照相比，以10、20、30和40吨/公顷的速率施用肿柄菊生物炭分别使西兰花生物量鲜重增加了13%、38%、26%和23%。发现20吨/公顷的施用量最有益，提高了叶片养分浓度和生长参数。本研究建议使用肿柄菊生物炭作为土壤改良剂，以改善砂壤土的土壤质量，提高西兰花的生产力和品质。
