Effect of different levels of water salinity and biochar on wheat yield under greenhouse conditions

Salinity has a negative effect on soil physical properties and plant production.
One way to compensate the negative effect of salinity is to use the proper amendment.
Biochar is an amendment, which could decrease the negative effect of salt stress on crop growth and production.
A pot-experiment was conducted in greenhouse to investigate the effect of four levels of biochar (0, 25, 50 and 75 t ha^-1) and four saline irrigation levels (0.5, 5, 7 and 9 dS m^-1, the mixture of 50% NaCl and 50% CaCl₂ solution on molar basis) on growth and yield of wheat.
The treatments were performed based on completely randomized design.
The results showed that in each salinity level, increasing biochar level significantly (p‹5%) reduced the dry weight of straw and grain yield.
Increasing the amount of salinity in each biochar level also reduced the dry weight of wheat straw and grain yield.
Increasing salinity up to 5 dS m^-1 in each biochar level increased water use efficiency, while increasing salinity over 5 dS m^-1 reduced the water use efficiency.
Further, increasing biochar to 25 t ha^-1 in each level of salinity also enhanced water use efficiency, while it was reduced by increasing biochar levels.
As the produced biochar had a saturated electrical conductivity of 1 dS m^-1, which increased the soil salinity by applying more biochar, it also negatively affected the yield and water use efficiency especially at higher levels of biochar application.
Therefore it can be concluded that application of appropriate biochar levels (25 t ha^-1) will enhance water use efficiency.

International Symposium on the Role of Plant Genetic Resources in Reclaiming Lands and Environment Deteriorated by Human and Natural Actions

N. Rezaei, F. Razzaghi

biochar, salinity, wheat yield, water use efficiency

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1190.14