Exploring the Potential Impact of Biochar Amendments in Promoting Redox Reactions, Agro-Morphological, and Phytochemical Characteristics in Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad Under Salt Stress

• Published in: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition 2024-03, Vol.24 (1), p.190-202
• Main Authors: Eghlima, Ghasem, Mohammadi, Meisam, Mirjalili, Mohammad Hossein, Ghorbanpour, Mansour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Analgesics; Antioxidants; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carvacrol; Catalase; Charcoal; Dry weight; Ecology; Electrolyte leakage; Environment; Environmental factors; Enzymes; Essential oils; Flowers & plants; Herbal medicine; Leaves; Life Sciences; Loam soils; Metabolites; Moisture content; Morphology; Nutrients; Oils & fats; Original Paper; Peroxidase; Pharmaceuticals; Physical characteristics; Physiology; Phytochemicals; Plant growth; Plant Sciences; Plants (botany); Potassium; Redox reactions; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salt; Satureja khuzistanica; Secondary metabolites; Sodium chloride; Soil fertility; Soil improvement; Soil Science & Conservation; Stress; Superoxide dismutase; Weight
• ISSN: 0718-9508; 0718-9516
• DOI: 10.1007/s42729-023-01566-z

Salinity stress is one of the most important environmental factors that substantially affects the yield of plants and changes their secondary metabolites worldwide. Biochar is a vital eco-friendly amendment widely used to improve soil health and promote plant productivity under stress conditions. In the present study, the effect of biochar, a carbon-rich organic substance (0, 1, 2, and 3% of the total mass of the pot), on agro-morphological and physiological traits, essential oil and carvacrol percentage, and antioxidant activity of Satureja khuzistanica under salt stress conditions (0, 2, 4, and 8 ds m −1 NaCl). The plant agro-morphological traits and yield, including plant height, number of main and secondary branches, length and width of leaf, fresh and dry weight of aerial parts, and dry weight of leaves and flowers were decreased with increasing salinity level, but these traits were improved with the application of biochar. The highest yield was observed in the 3% biochar treatment in normal conditions. The highest percentage of essential oil (3.55%) and carvacrol (97.66%) were obtained from the plants under salinity stress (8 ds m −1 ) treated without and with 3% biochar. With increasing levels of salinity stress, the amount of SPAD decreased, and electrolyte leakage (EL) and the activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymes increased. However, biochar treatments effectively reduced the damage caused by salinity stress, so that the addition of 3% biochar treatment will decrease the destructive effects of salinity stress in the S. khuzistanica , so that decreased EL content and the activity of POD, SOD, and CAT enzymes. According to the positive effects of biochar on functional traits, essential oil content, carvacrol percentage, and SPAD index, its application can be suggested as a sustainable strategy to increase the yield of S. khuzistanica under salinity stress.