BMC Plant Biology (Apr 2024)

Biochar enhances the growth and physiological characteristics of Medicago sativa, Amaranthus caudatus and Zea mays in saline soils

  • Ghulam Murtaza,
  • Muhammad Rizwan,
  • Muhammad Usman,
  • Sajjad Hyder,
  • Muhammad Irfan Akram,
  • Maha Deeb,
  • Jawaher Alkahtani,
  • Bandar M. AlMunqedhi,
  • A. S. Hendy,
  • Mohamed R. Ali,
  • Rashid Iqbal,
  • Wiwiek Harsonowati,
  • Muhammed Habib ur Rahman,
  • Muhammad Rizwan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-04957-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Biochar is a promising solution to alleviate the negative impacts of salinity stress on agricultural production. Biochar derived from food waste effect was investigated on three plant species, Medicago sativa, Amaranthus caudatus, and Zea mays, under saline environments. The results showed that biochar improved significantly the height by 30%, fresh weight of shoot by 35% and root by 45% of all three species compared to control (saline soil without biochar adding), as well as enhanced their photosynthetic pigments and enzyme activities in soil. This positive effect varied significantly between the 3 plants highlighting the importance of the plant-biochar interactions. Thus, the application of biochar is a promising solution to enhance the growth, root morphology, and physiological characteristics of plants under salt-induced stress.

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