Biochar Application Improves the Drought Tolerance in Maize Seedlings

Abstract

Application of biochar to agricultural soils is mostly used to improve soil fertility. Experimental treatments were comprised of two factors: i) drought at two level, i.e., 80% and 40% water holding capacity (WHC) which was maintained on gravimetric basis ii) three levels of biochar i.e., control, 2 t ha -1 and 4 t ha -1 added to soil. Experimentation was done to examine potential of biochar application to enhance the growth attributes, water relations, photosynthetic pigments and antioxidants activities in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. Results of study revealed that biochar application increased the growth qualities (total seedlings biomass, dry weight of shoot and root, shoot length and root length). In addition; contents of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, a + b and a/b), water relation (relative water contents, turgor potential, osmotic potential and water potential) were improved significantly due to addition of biochar. Addition of 4 t ha -1 biochar led to significant rise activity of enzymatic antioxidant catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in leaf of maize seedling sunder drought as well as well watered circumstances. However, biochar applied at the rate 4 t ha -1 improved the all the physiological and biochemical attributes in maize seedlings under drought. From the results it was concluded that biochar application is an efficient way to alleviate adverse effect of drought stress on maize. In drought prone areas, long term impacts of biochar on production of maize and properties of soil could be recommended as upcoming shove.

Physiological and biochemical responses of Brassica napus L. to drought‐induced stress by the application of biochar and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

“…Catalase was significantly lowered as compared to control in all drought treatments however with the addition of biochar and PGPR the enzymatic activities were reported higher. Our results are linked to the findings of Abideen et al (2020), Sattar et al (2019), and Abbas et al (2018) who stated that application of growth promoters alleviated the negative affect of water deficit stress on antioxidant enzymes and enhanced the enzymes activities.…”

The Effect of Biochar Amendment on Physiological and Biochemical Properties and Nutrient Content of Lettuce in Saline Water Irrigation Conditions

“…Salty water induced a significant increase in antioxidant enzymatic activity (SOD, CAT and APX), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and membrane injury index (MII) with a defense mechanism against the detrimental effects of salinity. Similar results were obtained in the studies conducted by Gharib et al (2016) and Sattar et al (2019). ROS production leads to oxidative damage (protein degradation, membrane damage, esc.…”

Microwave pyrolyzed sewage sludge: influence on soil microbiology, nutrient status, and plant biomass

“…There was also detected a significant decrease in a/b in both 2.5% and 7.5% BC (Z) treatments compared to the control, but we attribute this feature to the overall inhibited synthesis of chlorophyll in these treatments. Similarly, to our findings, the study of Sattar et al, [92] revealed that biochar application increased contents of photosynthetic pigments-chlorophyll a, b, a + b and a/b ratio in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings and it was concluded that biochar application is an efficient way to mitigate adverse effect of drought stress [92].…”