Assessment of Acidic Biochar on the Growth, Physiology and Nutrients Uptake of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Seedlings under Salinity Stress

Mukesh Kumar Soothar, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani, Mahendar Kumar Sootahar, Jingsheng Sun, Gao Yang, Saleem Maseeh Bhatti and Adama Traore
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Mukesh Kumar Soothar: Key Laboratory for Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of Ministry of Agriculture, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani: Key Laboratory for Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of Ministry of Agriculture, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
Mahendar Kumar Sootahar: Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan
Jingsheng Sun: Key Laboratory for Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of Ministry of Agriculture, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
Gao Yang: Key Laboratory for Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of Ministry of Agriculture, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
Saleem Maseeh Bhatti: Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan
Adama Traore: Key Laboratory for Crop Water Requirement and Regulation of Ministry of Agriculture, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: The application of an acidic biochar can improve plant growth and soil properties in saline conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of acidic biochar on plant growth and nutrients contents in saline soil. Seven treatments were arranged in a complete randomized design, including control (CK), 0, 30, and 45 g biochar added to a soil having 1% and 1.5% salts; these treatments were termed as B 0 S 1 , B 30 S 1 , B 45 S 1 and B 0 S 1.5 , B 30 S 1.5 , B 45 S 1.5 respectively. Experimental results showed that the plant height, leaves plant −1 , leaf area, and shoot fresh and dry biomass, and root fresh and dry biomass were increased for the B 45 S 1.5 , respectively. Similarly, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), and total sodium (Na) concentration in maize shoot were observed for B 30 S 1 , B 0 S 1.5 , CK, and B 0 S 1.5 , respectively. The highest concentrations of TN, TP, TK, and Na in root were obtained with the treatments B 0 S 1 , B 0 S 1 , B 45 S 1 , and B 0 S 1 , respectively. Soil pH, and EC decreased and nutrients concentration improved by the addition of acidic biochar. We conclude that the use of acidic biochar can be a potential source for the improvement of maize plant growth as well as mitigate the adverse effect of salt stress.

Keywords: biochar; growth; nutrients concentration; salinity stress; maize seedlings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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