Effect of Biochar and Hydrochar Concentrations on Enhancing Germination and Seedling Growth in the Exposed Arable Crop Oryza Sativa

Abstract

As carbon-rich materials, biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC), the by-products of feedstocks produced through pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization, respectively, have demonstrated encouraging promise as soil conditioners that enhance soil fertility and crop development and have recently gained attention as potential products for seed germination improvement, growth, and yield, this research was carried out to evaluate the impact of BC and HC on rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings germination and growth under laboratory conditions. conduct the factorial the experiment, five (5) treatments for each of BC and HC, respectively was applied. The results indicated that T1(0%), T2 (1%), T3 (2%), T4 (4%), and T5 (6%) of BC and HC increased germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index (GRI), germination energy (GE), shoot length (cm), fresh and dry shoot weight (g), fresh dry root weight (g), root/shoot ratio, and plant biomass, which GP, GRI, and GE showed increased by 70.2% and MGT by 66.6% in comparison with the control (0%) for BC and HC, respectively. Treatments 1%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of BC and HC significantly increased shoot length by 43.8% and 60.5%, respectively. Fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight, and plant biomass were significantly increased in comparison to the control for BC and HC at lower and higher concentrations, respectively. The findings reveal that lower concentrations of BC and higher concentrations of HC may be used as a viable soil conditioner to enhance rice seed germination and improve growth.