Effect of biochar and humic acid on reducing alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSC Student, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Assistant professor, Department of soil Science and Engineering, Razi University

3 Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Some organic modifiers can be used to reduce the effects of alkalinity on plants. In this research, the effects of simultaneous application of biochar in the soil and foliar spraying with humic acid on the reduction of alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were investigated. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included alkalinity stress at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mM as NaHCO3 with irrigation water), biochar (at three levels of 0, 1.5, and 3% by weight mixed with soil) and humic acid at three levels (0, 150, and 300 mg/L as foliar spray). The results showed that the interaction effect of alkalinity, biochar and humic acid on most of the growth characteristics as well as the amounts of proline, soluble sugars and plant pigments were significant (P≤0.01). The highest shoot and root dry weight (0.88 and 0.39 g, respectively), shoot height (23.5 cm), root length (19.5 cm) and relative water content (86.4 %) were obtained with application of 3% of biochar and 300 mg/L of humic acid, without alkalinity. Also, the highest amount of proline (3.13 μmol/g) and soluble sugars (6.08 mg/g) were found under severe alkalinity stress (100 mM of NaHCO3), without the use of biochar and humic acid. In general, the simultaneous use of biochar and humic acid is a simple, suitable and cheap method to reduce the adverse effects of alkaline stress in basil.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Effects of biochar and humic acid on reducing alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

 

Introduction

Alkalinity is an important environmental stress that limits agricultural products in most arid and semi-arid regions of the world, including Iran. This stress is mainly caused by CO32- and HCO3-1 ions. In this situation, there are ionic damages on plant growth in addition to osmotic effects. One of the ways to reduce alkalinity stress in plants is the use of organic amendments such as biochar in the soil or foliar application of humic acid. In this research, the effects of simultaneous application of biochar in the soil and foliar spraying with humic acid on the reduction of alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) were investigated.

Materials and methods

In order to investigate the effects of humic acid and biochar on reducing alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicumL.), a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications in 2022 in the greenhouse of Razi University. The factors included alkalinity stress at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mM as NaHCO3 with irrigation water), biochar made of rapeseed wastes, at three levels (0, 1.5, and 3% by weight) and humic acid at three levels (0, 150, and 300 mg/L as foliar spray). Plastic pots with a height of 20 cm and a diameter of 20 cm containing 4.5 kg of soil were used. Based on the considered levels, rapeseed biochar was thoroughly mixed with the soil of each pot before planting. Twenty-five basil seeds were planted in a circle pattern at a depth of 2-3 cm. After the seeds germinated, 14 plants were left in each pot and the rest were removed. After the seedlings were fully established, at the 8-leaf stage, the first alkalinity treatment was carried out using at desired levels and then the pots were irrigated. The application of humic acid was carried out in the form of foliar spraying until the surface of the leaves was completely wet in the morning hours. The application of humic acid was done on two other occasions with an interval of 7 days. At the end of the growing period, some morphological and physiological parameters, including shoot height, root length, root and shoot dry weight, number of leaves per plant, amount of proline, soluble sugars, and plant pigments including chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were measured and averaged for each pot.

​Results and discussion

The results showed that the interaction effect of alkalinity stress, biochar and humic acid on most of the growth characteristics as well as the amounts of proline, soluble sugars and plant pigments were significant (P≤0.01). The highest shoot and root dry weight (0.88 and 0.39 g, respectively), shoot height (23.5 cm), root length (19.5 cm) and relative water content (86.4 %) were obtained without alkalinity stress and with application of 3% of biochar and 300 mg/L of humic acid. Also, the highest amount of proline (3.13 μmol/g) and soluble sugars (6.08 mg/g) were found under severe alkalinity stress (100 mM of NaHCO3), without the use of biochar and humic acid. The highest amounts of chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids (0.79, 0.55 and 0.41 mg/g, respectively) were obtained without alkalinity stress and the use of biochar at the level of 3% and humic acid at the level of 300 mg g/L. The lowest values (0.25, 0.22 and 0.08 mg/g, respectively) were measured under conditions of severe alkalinity stress and no application of biochar and humic acid.

Conclusion

The results showed the negative effects of alkalinity stress on the physiological and morphological characteristics of basil. Likewise, the increase in the amount of proline and soluble sugars during alkalinity stress indicates a kind of adaptation reaction of the plant in these conditions. On the other hand, different levels of applied biochar and humic acid increased the growth parameters of aerial and plant roots under alkalinity stress. The application of biochar in the soil at the level of 3% by weight and humic acid in the form of foliar spraying at the level of 300 mg/L could improve the vegetative characteristics of basil and reduce the effects of alkalinity. In general, it can be said that the simultaneous use of biochar and humic acid is a simple, suitable and cheap strategy to reduce the adverse effects of alkaline stress in basil.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 55, Issue 7
September 2024
Pages 1113-1127

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