Muhammad Munir1
, Maged Mohammed1,2, Hesham S. Ghazzawy1,3, and Nashi K. Alqahtani 1, 4
1: Date Palm Research Center of Excellence, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University,
Shebin El Koum 32514, Egypt
3: Central Laboratory for Date Palm Research and Development, Agriculture Research Center, Giza
12511, Egypt
4: Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal
University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
Sustainable agricultural production strategies are crucial for ensuring food security in regions with
limited water resources. Using biochar as a soil amendment conditioner is one of the strategies
employed to conserve water. The potential of biochar for carbon sequestration is
enormous. Assessing the impact of biochar on cucumber yield under deficit irrigation is crucial
for developing effective greenhouse production management strategies that conserve water while
enhancing yield. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects of biochar addition on
the growth and quality of cucumbers under water stress conditions. Cucumber plants were grown
under three surface bubbler irrigation regimes: 100%, 80%, and 60% of the field capacity (FC),
representing high-water stress, moderate-water stress, and no-water stress conditions,
respectively. Two different feedstocks of date palm biomass were used to produce biochar, i.e.,
leaf and stem, whereas sandy loam alone was used as control. Findings of the experiment
revealed that cucumber plants grown in leaf and stem biochar amended potting media and
received water at 100% FC enhanced the crop growth, physiology, yield, and quality attributes.
The study also found that cucumber plants grown in leaf and stem biochar amended media at
80% and 60% FC showed superior growth and development traits compared to the control (sandy
loam alone) at 100% FC. Cucumber plants grown in sandy loam (control) at 80% and 60% FC
showed significantly negative results. Leaf biochar at 100% FC produced superior results;
however, water conservation at 80% and 60% FC is possible at a slight compromise to cucumber
growth, yield, and quality attributes.
19 авг 2024
