PJB-2018-1717
Effect of dairy manure derived biochar on microbial biomass carbon, soil carbon and Vitis vinifera under water stress conditions
Saira Kanwal, Aniqa Batool, Muhammad Asad Ghufran and Azeem Khalid
Abstract
Water is a key factor for plant growth and development and plants require an adequate amount of water for their optimum growth. But, in some cases plants grow better under a period of moderate water stress. Vitis vinifera is often subjected to severe water stress during hot, dry summers. Soil amendment is one of the methods to overcome drought stress. Biochar has been popularized due to its potential role in many fields like better crop yield, C sequestration, increasing microbial biomass carbon and soil carbon. In the present study, two rates of biochar (2g and 5g kg-1 soil) were investigated with two levels of water stress (35% and 70%). A considerable increase was observed in leaf area, plant height, net photosynthesis, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance when 35% stress was maintained along with the addition of large amount of bio char respectively. Moreover, highly significant results were found in plants treated with biochar as compared to control among all treatments. Vitis vinifera showed resistance having 5gkg-1 biochar with 35% water stress for all parameters. Soil carbon was 4.9% in 70 % stress and 5gkg-1 biochar except microbial biomass carbon which was 0.11% having moderate water stress (35%) and high biochar rate (5gkg-1). Results indicate that dairy manure derived biochar can be used to promote plant growth specifically of Vitis vinifera and increase microbial biomass carbon and soil carbon in soil. In future dairy manure derived biochar can be used for enhancing plant growth and improving soil properties under water stress conditions.
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