APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR IN MITIGATION OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT STRESS IN GLYCINE MAX L

Abstract

Crop yield, plant growth, development, and seed germination are all negatively impacted by drought. To mitigate this, the effects of poultry litter biochar (produced at 450°C via slow pyrolysis) on soybean (Glycine max L.) seedling development and seed germination under drought conditions were investigated the experimental materials were evaluated through three treatments i.e. drought stress, drought stress with biochar application, and control (well-watered) by using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. This study examined the impact of drought and biochar application on two soybean varieties such as SKP (South Korean Variety) and Malakand-96 with respect to growth, physiological, and biochemical parameters. Such stress significantly reduced plant height, shoot biomass, pod number, chlorophyll content, oil content, and protein levels in both varieties, while more severity. However, biochar supplementation alleviated the adverse effects and enhanced plant height, biomass, seed number, and photosynthetic pigments of both varieties, especially Malakand-96. Biochar supplementation enhanced the quality of seeds by upgrading oil and protein contents in both varieties. Improved quality of seeds was recorded after the application of biochar, but higher values were recorded in Malakand - 96. Therefore, the present study provides a way to enhance the drought tolerance of soybean with the assistance of biochar, especially by using drought - tolerant varieties like Malakand - 96. These results suggest the feasibility of enhancing soybean productivity in drought - affected regions through interaction of genotypes with drought tolerance and biochar.  Further research will be needed to long-term impacts of biochar on crop and soil performance.