Abstract
Biochar, prepared from organic waste materials, can improve the quality of contaminated soil areas. Biochar can be used as an economic centerpiece over other available resources and can properly utilize large amounts of waste. Soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) is a worldwide problem that poses potential agricultural and human health hazards. Moreover, Cd toxicity causes serious problems for sustainable food production, especially in food crops like barley. High cadmium concentration in soil is phytotoxic and decreases plant growth and ultimately yields. Biochar and ascorbic acid in ameliorating Cd stress are economically compatible and consistent approaches in agriculture. The present study aimed to evaluate biochar’s and foliar-applied ascorbic acid’s influence on some growth and biochemical characteristics of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to Cd stress. The soil was supplemented with biochar 2% w/w and 20 mg Cd kg−1. The foliar application of 30 mM ascorbic acid was done on plants. The results revealed that Cd stress decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. It also increased oxidative stress indicators, i.e., APX, COD, POD, flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolics, and electrolyte leakage, in barley with Cd-contamination. A significant enhancement in root and shoot length, gas exchange attributes, and chlorophyll contents validated the effectiveness of Bio + Asa treatments over all other treatments under Cd contamination. In conclusion, the sole applications of biochar and Asa in Cd contamination are also effective, but Bio + Asa is a better amendment for Cd stress alleviation in barley plants.
Highlights
The agriculture sector faces many problems, including more food production and mitigation of environmental stress factors to secure future food demands [1]
In Cd-conshowed that Bio + ascorbic acid (Asa) were significantly different from control-treated plants for improvtaminated soils, biochar and Asa were statistically alike with Bio + Asa for root length
Bio + Asa were significantly better over biochar and Asa under non-contaminasoils, biochar and Asa were statistically alike with Bio + Asa for root length
Summary
The agriculture sector faces many problems, including more food production and mitigation of environmental stress factors to secure future food demands [1]. Soil contamination by trace elements is one of the predominant abiotic stresses that decrease plant productivity. Trace element toxicity in plants includes both biologically essential and non-essential elements (Zn, Co, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, As, and Pb) Plant uptake all these elements only in trace amounts for normal functions, and they are called micronutrients [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Whenever any of these elements are present at elevated concentrations, it causes metal toxicity [2,9,10]
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