Improvement of Soil Solarization Efficiency and Lettuce Yield by Using Different Mulching Materials and Biochar

Soil solarization is a method that destroys some harmful pathogens and weed seeds in the soil with the effect of solar radiation as well as causing an increase in yield by increasing the availability of soil nutrients. The primary function of solarization is to destroy the target organisms by raising the soil temperature, while the secondary effect is to improve the soil structure, increase nutrient availability, and increase yield. The greatest temperature value obtained is the most essential indicator of the solarization application's success. The aim of this study was to increase the soil temperature using different mulch materials and biochar, and to determine its effect on lettuce yield. The study was carried out under greenhouse conditions for 2 years. The plots were covered by two different films. +biochar/-biochar was tested in each plot. It was consisted of six treatments each with three replications. Soil temperatures were measured in each plot at depth of 5 and 15 cm. On each parcel with biochar addition, 100 gr m(-2) was laid on the soil surface in a thin layer to cover the parcel. At the end of solarization treatment, plastic mulches were removed, the soil was raked to mix biochar and then lettuce was transplanted. Six plants per parcel were harvested and measured. The temperature values in biochar addition applications were 3 C-o higher than the traditional solarization mulch material and 10 C-o higher than the control application. According to the results, the most notable benefit of biochar was increase in yield. Yield increase was found to be 218% more in biochar applications than in traditional solarization application and around 300% more than in a control application. It has been concluded that more effective results can be obtained by using biochar in traditional solarization applications.