Corn Cob-Derived Biochar Improves the Growth of Saline-Irrigated Quinoa in Different Orders of Egyptian Soils

Abstract

Biochar is one of the important recycling methods in sustainable development, as it ensures the transformation of agricultural wastes into fertilizers and conditioners that improve soil properties and fertility. In the current study, corn cob-derived biochar (CB) was used to reduce the negative effects of saline water on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa cv. Utosaya Q37) grown on Aridisols and Entisols, which are the major soil groups of Egyptian soils. Quinoa plants were cultivated in pot experiment and were irrigated with saline water (EC = 10 dS m−1). The experiment contained three treatments, including control without any treatment, biochar at a rate of 1% (w/w) (BC1), and biochar at a rate of 3% (w/w) (BC3). The findings of the current study showed that BC treatments realized significant effects on soil salinity, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and plant availability and nutrients’ uptake in the two soils types. BC3 increased the SOM in Entisols and Aridisols by 23 and 44%; moreover, the dry biomass of quinoa plants was ameliorated by 81 and 41%, respectively, compared with the control. Addition of biochar to soil increased the nutrients’ use efficiencies by quinoa plants for the two studied Egyptian soils. Biochar addition caused significant increases in the use efficiency of nitrogen (NUF), phosphorus (PUE), and potassium (KUE) by quinoa plants. BC3 increased NUE, PUE, and KUS by 81, 81, and 80% for Entisols, while these increases were 40, 41, and 42% in the case of Aridisols. Based on the obtained results, the application of corn cob biochar improves the soil quality and alleviates the negative effects of saline irrigation on quinoa plants grown on Aridisols and Entisols Egyptian soils. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment in arid and semi-arid regions to reduce the salinity hazards.

Diminishing Heavy Metal Hazards of Contaminated Soil via Biochar Supplementation

“…Consequently, those parameters were high in the soil treated with biochar, and the increase was more evident with high rates of biochar application. These results were compatible with those obtained by [31][32][33]. The decrease in soil salinity values resulting from 2% GB 400 may be attributable to salt adsorption by biochar, maintenance without an increase in soil solution, and/or downward movement of saline water resulting in a lower EC value [3,[34][35][36].…”

Improvement of soil properties, nutrient availability and wheat traits induced by the addition of organic materials: A field study

“…Molasses stimulates the production of organic acids in the soil which helps to decrease soil pH. These results are compatible with those obtained by Awad et al (2021) and Awad et al, (2020a) who reported that the application of humic and sugar can vinasse decrease the pH value of different soils. The results showed a decrease in electrical conductivity (EC) as a result of organic amendments application, and the effect was more pronounced with the high rate.…”

“…This result may be due to the high organic matter content of these amendments which was more declared with the high rate. Similar results were obtained by Ali et al (2021), Awad (2016), Rekaby et al (2020), andRekaby et al (2021) who concluded that the organic matter gradually increased with increasing the organic materials application level compared to control in the tested soils. Also, Chen et al (2014) indicated that the addition of humic acid could enhance the content of soil organic matter.…”

Grafting enhances drought tolerance by regulating stress-responsive gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activities in cucumbers

“…Various mechanisms can control drought stress, including grafting and genetic breeding. Lately, the grafting system has been used to maintain drought stress in numerous plant types [ 35 , 36 ]. To our knowledge, the current study is the first to explore and choose five rootstock plants tolerant to water deficits, which may cause drought tolerance in cucumbers by activating the stress-responsive gene expression and antioxidant enzyme system [ 4 ].…”