BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 167 IHSS&IWA26 / BRNO / CZECHIA / 23–28 August 2026 Friday, 28 August 2026 / Hall C Travel Awardee Presentations TA4 Effects of Biochar and Sodium (Na)-Based Fertilizers on Soil Fauna Abundance, Soil Chemical Properties, Yields and Nutrients Uptake of Telfairia Occidentalis. O. J. Oladimeji*1, O. J. Soyelu2 and M. K. Idowu1 1 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria 2 Department of Crop Production and Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Introduction Tropical soils are characteristically infertile due to low activity clay minerals, low cation exchange capacity (CEC) and low organic matter content. Currently, advent of climate change menace has further worsened soil productivity thus require a stable soil organic matter addition technology. Biochar, a pyrolyzed organic residue has been reported to be capable of increasing soil organic matter content and build-up, which foster soil organism proliferation and improve soil fertility. Materials and methods The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria Ife (between latitude 7o 31’N and 7o 33’ N and longitudes 4o 33’ E and 4o 34’ E). Bulk soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth before fertilizer application for routine analyses. The experiment consisted eight (8) treatments comprising: Control (C), 400 kg Inorganic Fertilizer (NPK -5:15:15) ha-1 (IF), 400 kg NPK ha-1 + 4 kg Na ha-1 (IFNa), 200 kg NPK ha-1 + 5 tons Organic Fertilizer (OF) ha-1 (IFOF), 400 kg NPK ha-1 + 10 tons Biochar ha-1, (IFBi), 200 kg NPK ha-1 + 5 tons OF ha-1 + 4 kg Na ha-1 (IFOFNa), 400 kg NPK ha-1 + 10 tons Biochar ha-1 + 4 kg Na ha-1 (IFBiNa) and 200 kg NPK ha-1 + 10 tons Biochar + 5 tons OF ha-1 + 4 kg Na ha-1 (IFOFBiNa) laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. Organic fertilizer and biochar were incorporated into the soil two weeks before planting while NPK and Na were applied in equal splits; at 3 and 7 weeks after planting on 2 m x 2 m bed with plant spacing of 1 m x 1 m between and with plants. The second planting was carried out to assess the residual effects of the treatments on the parameters determined. Data on soil fauna were collected in September, the peak of raining season in South western Nigeria. Macrofauna and mesofauna were estimated using Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) and Berlese-Tullgren extraction procedures respectively. Soil pH, organic matter and other nutrient elements were evaluated.
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