Pongamia pinnata L. Leaves Biochar Increased Growth and Pigments Syntheses in Pisum sativum L. Exposed to Nutritional Stress

Sadaf Hashmi, Uzma Younis, Subhan Danish and Tariq Muhammad Munir
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Sadaf Hashmi: Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Uzma Younis: Department of Botany, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Subhan Danish: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Tariq Muhammad Munir: Department of Geography, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) leaf chlorophyll and pigments syntheses are retarded under nutritional stress. Biochar has the potential to regulate soil nutrient supplies and optimize plant nutrient uptakes. We examine the role of Pongamia pinnata L. waste leaf biochar (PLB) in improving vegetative growth and leaf chlorophyll and accessory pigments of pea exposed to nutritional stress. Three PLB application rates (0, 1, and 2%) crossed with half (HF), and full NPK fertilizer (FF) recommended doses were applied to sandy soil field-pots (arranged in a completely randomized design). There were significant or maximum increases in plant vegetative or physiological traits, including the fresh or dry, above- and below-ground biomass weights, and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanin) in response to a 2%PLB + FF application ( p = 0.002). Trait values also responded to 2%PLB + HF, which signified the nutrient regulatory character of PLB ( p = 0.038). The PLB-driven reduction in nutritional stress resulted in diminished lycopene (antioxidant) content ( p = 0.041). Therefore, we suggest that the soil application of 2%PLB + FF has the greatest impact on pea vegetative growth and leaf chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanin, and lycopene contents in Pisum sativum L. Further research is recommended to investigate the relationship of PLB with soil nutrient availabilities and plant nutrient concentrations.

Keywords: biochar; chlorophyll content; nutritional stress; pea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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