Biochar Improved Sorghum Germination And Seedling Growth Under Salinity Stress

Salinity is a growing problem worldwide, and techniques are needed to mitigate this problem. This study was conducted to determine if biochar (BC) can alleviate the adverse impacts of salinity stress on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) seedling growth. Sorghum variety Kambal was sown in salinized soils at levels of 1.2, 3.1, and 7.3 dS m(-1). The saline soils were treated with four BC rates of 0, 2, 4, and 8% (w/w). The test was a factorial design arranged as a completely randomized design with three replications. Seedling emergence percentage; root and shoot length; root and shoot dry weight; relative water content (RWC); and the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were affected by the interaction between salinity and BC. At the 7.3 dS m(-1) salinity level, 2% BC increased seedling emergence percentage by 25.0% (P = .012). At the 7.3 dS m(-1) salinity level, 4% BC level increased root and shoot length (P = .009) and RWC by 46.0, 28.0, and 19.8% respectively. At the 7.3 dS m(-1) salinity level, 8% biochar decreased CAT by 50.6%. At the high salinity level, 4% BC decreased POD and SOD by 24.9 and 23.4%, respectively. Biochar amendment proved to be more useful to alleviate the effects of salinity on the seedling growth stage. These findings suggest that using BC in suitable amounts could mitigate the adverse effects of salinity, but excess BC application may have negative influences on seedling growth.