Abstract
Soil amendments may increase the slate tolerance of plants consequently; it may increase the opportunity of using saline water in agricultural production. In the present pot trial, the effects of biochar (BIC) and compost (COM) on roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) irrigated with saline water (EC = 7.50 dS m−1) was studied. Roselle plants were amended with biochar (BIC1 and BIC2) or compost (COM1 and COM2) at rates of 1 and 2% (w/w), as well as by a mixture of the two amendments (BIC1+). The experiment included a control soil without any amendments. Biochar and compost significantly enhanced the soil quality and nutrients availability under saline irrigation. Compost and biochar improved the degree of soil aggregation, total soil porosity and soil microbial biomass. BIC1 + COM1 increased the soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen over the individual application of each amendments and control soil. BIC1 + COM1 increased the activity of dehydrogenase and phosphatase enzymes. Growth of roselle plants including: plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll were significantly responded to the added amendments. The maximum sepal’s yield was achieved from the combined application of compost and biochar. All the investigated treatments caused remarkable increases in the total flavonol and anthocyanin. BIC1 + COM1 increased the total anthocyanin and flavonol by 29 and 17% above the control. Despite the notable improvement in soil and roselle quality as a result of the single addition of compost or biochar, there is a clear superiority due to mixing the two amendments. It can be concluded that mixing of biochar and compost is recommended for roselle plants irrigated with saline water.
Highlights
Fresh water, of all natural resources especially in arid regions, is the major control of sustainable development
The current study clearly indicated that combined addition of biochar and compost had positive effects on soil quality and plant growth under saline irrigation conditions
Increasing the soil organic carbon through the application of biochar and compost caused an increasing the activity of soil microbes that increased the nutrients release and enhanced soil physiochemical characteristics e. g., the water holding, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil structure[28,29,30]
Summary
Of all natural resources especially in arid regions, is the major control of sustainable development. Organic amendments had higher CEC, water holding capacities, chelation ability, good nutrient resource, improves soil structure, aeration and its effect on soil stability[9]. Biochar and compost could increase soil fertility and quality and encourage plants to overcome the negative effects of salinity. Little is known about the interactive effects of sole and combined application of compost and biochar on soil quality under saline conditions. This study aims to investigate the effects of biochar and compost on soil quality and roselle growth under saline irrigation. The current study aims to investigate the following hypotheses: compared to the individual application of compost and biochar, the combined addition can assist the growth and quality of roselle through increasing the enzyme activities, soil fertility and nutrients uptake
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