Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Synergy of biochar and biofertilizers to improve bell pepper fruit biochemical quality with increased soil carbon, Azospirillum population and mycorrhization

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4283
Submitted
7 July 2024
Published
25-11-2024
Versions

Abstract

Sustainable crop production depends more on maintaining good soil health. Biochar significantly improves the soil's physical, chemical, biological and nutritional properties while aiding in carbon sequestration. Biofertilizers, which promote nutrient cycling, heavy metal chelation and the production of plant growth substances are crucial to sustainable agriculture. While the individual benefits of biochar and biofertilizers are well-documented, their combined effect in vegetable farming is less studied. The synergistic application of biochar and biofertilizers can improve soil health and nutrient dynamics, enhancing crops' biochemical properties. In a pot culture experiment, California Wonder bell peppers were treated with biochar and biofertilizers, including Azospirillum, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM), and Serendipita indica. These were applied directly to the soil during transplanting. Results showed that plants treated with biochar + Azospirillum had higher flavonoid, total soluble protein and ascorbic acid content. Biochar + VAM treatment resulted in higher polyphenol content, total dry matter and root volume. S. indica reduced the vegetative period and induced earlier flowering. Biochar also increased soil organic carbon (2.89 %), improved the rhizosphere Azospirillum population and enhanced fungal endophytes' root colonization. Combining biochar and biofertilizer improves bell pepper plant performance, enhances biochemical parameters and improves soil health.

References

  1. NHB [National Horticulture Board]; 2022. Available: https:// nhb.gov.in/
  2. Rawat J, Saxena J, Sanwal P. Biochar: a sustainable approach for improving plant growth and soil properties. Biochar- An Imperative Amendment for Soil and the Environment. 2019;8:1-7. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82151
  3. Kartika K, Sakagami JI, Lakitan B, Yabuta S, Akagi I, Widuri LI, et al. Rice husk biochar effects on improving soil properties and root development in rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) exposed to drought stress during early reproductive stage. AIMS Agriculture and Food. 2021;6(2):737-51. https://doi.org/10.3934/ agrfood.2021043
  4. Vlahova V, Popov V. Response of yield components of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to the influence of biofertilizers under organic farming conditions. New Knowledge Journal of Science. 2018;7(3):79-89.
  5. Degon Z, Dixon S, Rahmatallah Y, Galloway M, Gulutzo S, Price H, et al. Azospirillum brasilense improves rice growth under salt stress by regulating the expression of key genes involved in salt stress response, abscisic acid signaling and nutrient transport, among others. Frontiers in Agronomy. 2023;5. https:// doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2023.1216503
  6. Chen M, Arato M, Borghi L, Nouri E, Reinhardt D. Beneficial services of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-from ecology to application. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2018;9. https:// doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01270
  7. Bhatt SS, Vamshi M, Singh V, Rani P, Dayal D, Gupta A. Ameriolations with VAM and PSB inoculation of growth and yield attributes in pea (Pisum sativum L.) cv. Arkel. Legume Research- An International Journal. 2024;1:5. https://doi.org/10.18805/LR- 5123
  8. Varma A, Bakshi M, Lou B, Hartmann A, Oelmueller R. Serendipita indica : a novel plant growth-promoting mycorrhizal fungus. Agricultural Research. 2012;1:117-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s40003-012-0019-5
  9. Ghazi A. Potential for biochar as an alternate carrier to peat moss for the preparation of Rhizobia bio inoculum. Microbiology Research Journal International. 2017;18(4):1-9. https:// doi.org/10.9734/MRJI/2017/30828
  10. Anith KN, Faseela KM, Archana PA, Prathapan KD. Compatibility of Serendipita indica and Trichoderma harzianum as dual inoculants in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Symbiosis. 2011;55:11-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-011-0143-1
  11. KAU. Package of practices recommendations (organic). 15th Ed. Thrissur: Kerala Agricultural University. 2017;360.
  12. Kamtekar S, Keer V, Patil V. Estimation of phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of marketed polyherbal formulation. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2014;4(9):061-65. https:// doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2014.40911
  13. Bradford MM. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of proteindye binding. Analytical Biochemistry. 1976;72(1-2):248-54. https:// doi.org/10.1006/abio.1976.9999
  14. Harris LJ, Ray SN. Diagnosis of vitamin-C subnutrition by urine analysis with a note on the antiscorbutic value of human milk. The Lancet. 1935;71-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01) 29147-8
  15. Branisa J, Jenisova Z, Porubska M, Jomova K, Valko M. Spectrophotometric determination of chlorophylls and carotenoids. An Effect of Sonication and Sample Processing. 2014;61-64. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1340072
  16. Pang W, Crow WT, Luc JE, McSorley R, Giblin-Davis RM, Kenworthy KE, Kruse JK. Comparison of water displacement and WinRHIZO software for plant root parameter assessment. Plant Disease. 2011;95(10):1308-10. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-11-0026
  17. Walkley A, Black IA. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science. 1934;37(1):29-38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
  18. Sulaiman KH, Al-Barakah FN, Assafed AM, Dar BA. Isolation and identification of Azospirillum and Azotobacter species from Acacia spp. at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh Journal of Botany. 2019;48(2):239-51. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v48i2.47546
  19. Gopinath PP, Parsad R, Joseph B, Adarsh VS. GrapesAgri1: collection of shiny apps for data analysis in agriculture. Journal of Open Source Software. 2021;6(63):3437. https://doi.org/10.21105/ joss.03437
  20. Agnolucci M, Avio L, Palla M, Sbrana C, et al. Health-promoting properties of plant products: the role of mycorrhizal fungi and associated bacteria. Agronomy. 2020;10(12):1864. https:// doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121864
  21. Andrade-Sifuentes A, Fortis-Hernández M, Preciado-Rangel P, Orozco-Vidal JA, Yescas-Coronado P, Rueda-Puente EO. Azospirillum brasilense and solarized manure on the production and phytochemical quality of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Agronomy. 2020;10(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy10121956
  22. Ureche MA, Pérez-Rodriguez MM, Ortiz R, Monasterio RP, Cohen AC. Rhizobacteria improve the germination and modify the phenolic compound profile of pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Rhizosphere. 2021;18. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.rhisph.2021.100334
  23. Petruccelli R, Bonetti A, Traversi ML, Faraloni C, et al. Influence of biochar application on nutritional quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Crop and Pasture Science. 2015;66(7):747-55. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP14247
  24. Villamarin-Raad DA, Lozano-Puentes HS, Chitiva LC, Costa GM, et al. Changes in phenolic profile and total phenol and total flavonoid contents of Guadua angustifolia Kunth plants under organic and conventional fertilization. ACS Omega. 2023;8 (44):41223-31. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c04579
  25. Ghaderimokri L, Rezaei-Chiyaneh E, Ghiyasi M, Gheshlaghi M, et al. Application of humic acid and biofertilizers changes oil and phenolic compounds of fennel and fenugreek in intercropping systems. Scientific Reports. 2022;12(1):5946. https:// doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09645-4
  26. Zhang RQ, Zhu HH, Zhao HQ, Yao Q. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation increases phenolic synthesis in clover roots via hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid and nitric oxide signaling pathways. Journal of Plant Physiology. 2013;170(1):74-79. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2012.08.022
  27. Metwally RA, Soliman SA, Latef AA, Abdelhameed RE. The individual and interactive role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma viride on growth, protein content, amino acids fractionation and phosphatases enzyme activities of onion plants amended with fish waste. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2021;214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112072
  28. Khan Z, Zhang K, Khan MN, Bi J, Zhu K, et al. How biochar affects nitrogen assimilation and dynamics by interacting soil and plant enzymatic activities: quantitative assessment of 2 years potted study in a rapeseed-soil system. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2022;13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.853449
  29. Consentino BB, Sabatino L, Vultaggio L, Rotino GL, La Placa GG, et al. Grafting eggplant onto underutilized Solanum species and biostimulatory action of Azospirillum brasilense modulate growth, yield, nue and nutritional and functional traits. Horticulturae. 2022;8(8):722.
  30. Hamed L. Influence of N-fertigation stress and agro-organic wastes (biochar) to improve yield and water productivity of sweet pepper under sandy soils conditions. Plant Archives. 2020;20 (1):3208-17.
  31. Bibi S, Ullah R, Burni T, Ullah Z, Kazi M. Impact of resorcinol and biochar application on the growth attributes, metabolite contents and antioxidant systems of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). ACS Omega. 2023;8(48):45750-62. https://doi.org/10.1021/ acsomega.3c06233
  32. Alizadeh MM, Gerami M, Majidian P, Ghorbani HR. The potential application of biochar and salicylic acid to alleviate salt stress in soybean (Glycine max L.). Heliyon. 2024;10(4). https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26677
  33. Lakshmikala K, Babu BR, Babu MR, Devi PR. Effect of liquid and carrier-based biofertilizers on flowering attributes, days to harvest and benefit-cost ratio in tomato. Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture. 2022;17(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.5958/2582- 2683.2022.00001.6
  34. Rab A, Khan MR, Haq SU, Zahid S, Asim M, et al. Impact of biochar on mungbean yield and yield components. Pure and Applied Biology (PAB). 2021;5(3):632-40.
  35. Kim D, Abdelaziz ME, Ntui VO, Guo X, Al-Babili S. Colonization by the endophyte Serendipita indica leads to early flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana likely by triggering gibberellin biosynthesis. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2017;490(4):1162-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.06.169
  36. Hashem A, Kumar A, Al-Dbass AM, Alqarawi AA, Al-Arjani AB, et al. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar improves drought tolerance in chickpea. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2019;26(3):614-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.11.005
  37. Cong M, Hu Y, Sun X, Yan H, Yu G, et al. Long-term effects of biochar application on the growth and physiological characteristics of maize. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2023;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1172425
  38. Sandhya A, Vijaya T, Narasimha G. Effect of microbial inoculants (VAM and PSB) on soil physico-chemical properties. BioTechnology: An Indian Journal. 2013;7(8):320-24.
  39. Kuzyakov Y, Gavrichkova O. Time lag between photosynthesis and carbon dioxide efflux from soil: a review of mechanisms and controls. Global Change Biology. 2010;16(12):3386-406. https:// doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02179.x
  40. Sarma B, Farooq M, Gogoi N, Borkotoki B, et al. Soil organic carbon dynamics in wheat- green gram crop rotation amended with vermicompost and biochar in combination with inorganic fertilizers: A comparative study. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018;201:471-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.004
  41. Joseph S, Pow D, Dawson K, Rust J, Munroe P, et al. Biochar increases soil organic carbon, avocado yields and economic return over 4 years of cultivation. Science of the Total Environment. 2020;724. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.scitotenv.2020.138153
  42. Chagas JK, de Figueiredo CC, Ramos ML. Biochar increases soil carbon pools: Evidence from a global meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Management. 2022;305. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jenvman.2021.114403
  43. Kolton M, Graber ER, Tsehansky L, Elad Y, Cytryn E. Biocharstimulated plant performance is strongly linked to microbial diversity and metabolic potential in the rhizosphere. New Phytologist. 2017;213(3):1393-404. https://doi.org/10.1111/ nph.14253
  44. Zackrisson O, Nilsson MC, Wardle DA. Key ecological function of charcoal from wildfire in the Boreal forest. Oikos. 1996;10-19. https://doi.org/10.2307/3545580
  45. Saranya K, Kumutha K, Krishnan PS. Influence of biochar and Azospirillum application on the growth of maize. Madras Agricultural Journal. 2011;98(Apr-Jun):1. https:// doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100266
  46. Liang S, Wang SN, Zhou LL, Sun S, et al. Combination of biochar and functional bacteria drives the ecological improvement of saline-alkali soil. Plants. 2023;12(2):284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ plants12020284
  47. Videgain-Marco M, Marco-Montori P, Martí-Dalmau C, Jaizme- Vega MD, et al. The effects of biochar on indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi from agro environments. Plants. 2021;10 (5):950. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050950
  48. Aggangan NS, Cortes AD, Reaño CE. Growth response of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plant as affected by bamboo biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sterilized and unsterilized soil. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. 2019;22. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101347
  49. Barna G, Mako A, Takacs T, Skic K, et al. Biochar alters soil physical characteristics, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and glomalin production. Agronomy. 2020;10 (12):1933. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121933
  50. Xu W, Xu H, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Gundale MJ, et al. Global metaanalysis reveals positive effects of biochar on soil microbial diversity. Geoderma. 2023;436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116528

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.