POTENTIAL OF BIOCHAR TO AMELIORATE WHEAT GROWTH UNDER SALINITY STRESS

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects crop production throughout the world. New strategies for plant adaptation with soil affected by salinity are needed. Biochar may be an effective management tool. Biochar is a charcoal-type material manufactured specifically for use as a soil amendment in agriculture. It is produced by pyrolysis of biomass under low or anaerobic conditions. The following experiment includes the preparation of biochar using rice husk biomass and then characterization of biochar through different physical and chemical analysis. Pot experiment is set up for eight treatments, treatment without biochar is set as control, 2% biochar is introduced in three different levels of salinity. This research is designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of 2% biochar application on growth parameter of wheat crop under different levels of salinity stress i.e., 50ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm NaCl solution. Biochar application had positive effect on all observed treatments with salinity levels (50ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm) compared to the respective unamended treatments and the addition of 2% biochar in the treatment with concentration of 150ppm provided with best possible results.