Department of Botany, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 23;14(1):25000. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76082-w.
Amidst depleting water resources, rising crop water needs, changing climates, and soil fertility decline from inorganic modifications of soil, the need for sustainable agricultural solutions has been more pressing. The experimental work aimed to inspect the potential of organically activated biochar in improving soil physicochemical and nutrient status as well as improving biochemical and physiological processes, and optimizing yield-related attributes under optimal and deficit irrigation conditions. Biochar enhances soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, while improving plant nutrient uptake and drought resilience. The field experiment with maize crop was conducted in Hardaas Pur (32°38.37'N, 74°9.00'E), Gujrat, Pakistan. The experiment involved the use of DK-9108, DK-6321, and Sarhaab maize hybrid seeds, with five moisture levels of evapotranspiration (100% ETC, 80% ETC, 70% ETC, 60% ETC, and 50% ETC) maintained throughout the crop seasons. Furthermore, activated biochar was applied at three levels: 0 tons/ha (no biochar), 5 tons per hectare, and 10 tons per hectare. The study's findings revealed significant improvements in soil organic matter, bulk density, nutrient profile and total porosity with biochar supplementation in soil. Maize plants grown under lower levels of ETC in biochar supplemented soil had enhanced membrane stability index (1.6 times higher) increased protein content (1.4 times higher), reduced malondialdehyde levels (0.7 times lower), improved antioxidant enzyme activity (1.3 times more SOD and POD activity, and 1.2 times more CAT activity), improved relative growth (1.05 times more) and enhanced yield parameters (26% more grain and stover yield, 16% more 1000-seed weight, 29% more total seed weight, 33% more apparent water productivity) than control. Additionally, among the two biochar application levels tested, the 5 tons/ha dose demonstrated superior efficiency compared to the 10 tons/ha biochar dose.
在水资源不断减少、作物需水量增加、气候变化以及土壤因无机改良而肥力下降的情况下，对可持续农业解决方案的需求变得更加迫切。本实验旨在研究有机活化生物炭在改善土壤理化性质和养分状况、提高生物化学和生理过程、优化产量相关性状方面的潜力，研究在充分灌溉和亏缺灌溉条件下的效果。生物炭可以增强土壤结构、保持水分和养分供应，同时提高植物对养分的吸收能力和抗旱能力。该实验在巴基斯坦古吉拉特邦哈达斯布尔（32°38.37'N，74°9.00'E）的玉米田中进行。实验使用了 DK-9108、DK-6321 和 Sarhaab 玉米杂交种，在整个作物季节保持了五种蒸腾蒸发量水平（100%ETC、80%ETC、70%ETC、60%ETC 和 50%ETC）。此外，还在土壤中添加了三种水平的活化生物炭：0 吨/公顷（无生物炭）、5 吨/公顷和 10 吨/公顷。研究结果表明，生物炭的添加显著改善了土壤中的有机质、容重、养分状况和总孔隙度。在添加生物炭的土壤中，ETC 水平较低的玉米植株具有更高的膜稳定性指数（高 1.6 倍）、更高的蛋白质含量（高 1.4 倍）、更低的丙二醛水平（低 0.7 倍）、更高的抗氧化酶活性（SOD 和 POD 活性高 1.3 倍，CAT 活性高 1.2 倍）、更高的相对生长率（高 1.05 倍）和增强的产量参数（籽粒和秸秆产量增加 26%，千粒重增加 16%，总种子重量增加 29%，表观水分生产率增加 33%）。此外，在测试的两种生物炭应用水平中，5 吨/公顷的剂量比 10 吨/公顷的生物炭剂量效率更高。
