Impact of the addition of biochar and foliar KNO3 on physiology, growth and root biometric parameters of tomato cultivated under different water regimes

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 332; p. 113186
• Main Authors: Filho, Manoel Nelson de Castro, Melo, Leônidas Carrijo Azevedo, Paes, Ésio de Castro, Filho, José Ferreira Lustosa, Caballero, Rolando Ismael Corella, Gomes, Jessica Lino, Gomes, Carlos Nick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Climate change; Drought tolerance; Increase in plant biomass; Pyrolysis; Root growth; Vegetables; Increase in plant biomass; Climate change; Pyrolysis; Vegetables; Drought tolerance; Root growth
• ISSN: 0304-4238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113186

•The water deficit leads to a decrease in CO2 assimilation in tomato plants.•Soil water scarcity reduces tomato plant biomass both above and below ground.•Coffee husk biochar can effectively mitigate the effects of water deficit in tomatoes.•Coffee husk biochar enhances plant photosynthesis, promoting growth both above and below ground.•Coffee husk biochar enhances plant development by improving root biometric parameters. Improving water use efficiency in agricultural production is mandatory either due to the high-water demand or due droughts caused by climate change. Looking for efficient strategies of soil and plant management is needed. Biochar is a carbon-rich material that has capacity to improves soil water retention and increase agricultural yields. Tomato is highly susceptible to water stress and the combination of biochar application in soil associated with foliar potassium nitrate (KNO3) is a promising strategy to mitigate water stress. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adding biochar and foliar KNO3 application under different irrigation regimes (50 and 90 % of available soil water - ASW) on physiology, growth, biomass accumulation, and root biometric parameters of tomato. The results of this study showed water deficit (50 % of ASW) severely affected plant development. Conversely, beneficial effects on physiology, growth, biomass accumulation, and biometric parameters of root system were observed in plants grown in soil treated with biochar, regardless of the water level in soil. The study also showed foliar KNO3 application did not alleviate the negative effects of water stress on tomato plant, nor did it have a synergistic effect with biochar.