Mitigation of salinity stress effects on kochia (Bassia scoparia L.) biomass productivity using biochar application

Abstract

Salinity continues to be a key factor limiting food security and agricultural sustainability in arid and semi-arid countries. Biochar has been promoted to reduce the risk of saline irrigation. In a controlled study, physiological and morphological growth factors of kochia plants that were irrigated with tap water (S1) and saline water (S2) were assessed to identify the ameliorative effects of biochar amendment to the soil at different levels (B1: 0%, B2: 2%, B3: 5%, and B4: 10%. According to our findings, salinity stress negatively affected morphological and physiological growth parameters of kochia plants by decreasing the fresh and dry weight (25% and 28%, respectively), plant height (30%), circumference (46%), total chlorophyll (51%), and relative water content (29%) when compared to the controls. Furthermore, electrolyte leakage increased considerably (19%) due to salt stress. Significant morphological and physiological growth enhancements were seen at all biochar levels in comparison to the control treatment, with the highest level increasing plant height by 55%, circumference by 76%, total chlorophyll concentrations by 121%, and relative water content by 28%. Furthermore, it resulted in a 36% reduction in the stressed plants’ electrolyte leakage. The findings demonstrated biochar’s benefits in reducing salinity’s negative effects on kochia plants.

NOVELTY STATEMENT

• This study provides new data about the specifying the impact of using biochar on salinity concentration and the growth parameters of kochia plants. This investigation demonstrated a significant results in terms of that the salinity stress relative to using biochar.

• Biochar is crucial for stimulating and activating biochemical defensive mechanisms against salt stress; yet, research in this area is lacking.

• Biochar has shown that it is crucial to stimulate biochemical defense mechanisms against salinity stress

• It was found that using biochar as a soil supplement improved morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of the kochia plant by increasing fresh and dried weight per plant, plant height, plant circumference, chlorophyll concentrations, and relative water content while lowering electrolyte leakage in stressed kochia plants. This research will aid in increasing kochia’s early development and stand establishment in saline circumstances.

Keywords:

• Kochia
• mitigation
• morphology
• physiology
• salinity

Disclosure statement

The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Al-balqa Applied University.