Biochar application affects forage sorghum under salinity stress

• Published in: Chilean journal of agricultural research Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 317 - 325
• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Muhi Eldeen Hussien, Ali, Adam Yousif Adam, Zhou, Guisheng, Elsiddig, Aboagla Mohammed Ibrahim, Zhu, Guanglong, Nimir, Nimir Eltyb Ahmed, Ahmad, Irshad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chillán Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias 01.07.2020; Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Agricultural production; Antioxidants; Catalase; Charcoal; Conductance; Crop yields; Enzymes; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Factorial experiments; Leaf area; Leaves; Loam soils; Oxidative stress; Peroxidase; Photosynthesis; Physiology; Povidone; Resistance; Saline soils; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salt; Sandy loam; Sandy soils; Seedlings; Sodium chloride; Soil amendment; Soil layers; Soil treatment; Sorghum; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Superoxide; Superoxide dismutase; Transpiration; Weight; Yeast; China; Sudan; United States > US; Nebraska
• ISSN: 0718-5839; 0718-5820; 0718-5839
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-58392020000300317

Salinity is a growing problem worldwide and techniques are needed to mitigate this problem. The experiment was conducted to examine if biochar could improve growth, physiological response, and DM yield of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) under saline conditions. Sorghum seedlings were transplanted in sandy loam soil (0-20 cm layer of a Typic Fluvaquents Entisols) treated with sodium chloride at rates of 0.26, 5.8, and 12.6 dS [m.sup.-1]. The saline soil was treated with four biochar rates, 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (w/w). Plant height, fresh weight, photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g), transpiration rate (E), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were affected by the interaction between salinity and biochar. At the 12.6 dS [m.sup.-1] salinity rate, 5% biochar increased plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, DM yields, A, [g.sub.s], and E by 20.1%, 16.5%, 26.2%, 27.4%, 14.5%, 31.1%, and 26.7%, respectively. At the 12.6 dS [m.sup.-1] salinity rate, 5% biochar decreased CAT, POD, and SOD by 56.8%, 44.8%, and 18.9%, respectively. Furthermore, among all biochar rates used in this investigation, the 5% rate had a better result for forage sorghum production. These findings demonstrated that the lowest biochar soil amendment application could alleviate the harmful impact of salinity; a high biochar application rate can have a negative influence. Key words: Forage yield, salinity, soil amendment, Sorghum bicolor.