Wheat Straw Biochar Amendment Increases Salinity Stress Tolerance in Alfalfa Seedlings by Modulating Physiological and Biochemical Responses
Abstract
Salinity stress is a major environmental challenge that adversely impacts the physiological and biochemical processes of pasture, consequently resulting in reduced yields and compromised quality. Biochar amendment has recently emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate the deleterious effects of salinity stress. However, the interactive influences of salinity stress and wheat straw biochar on the physiological, biochemical, and growth characteristics of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) remain underexplored. A factorial experiment was conducted using a randomized complete design with five salinity levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl) and three application rates of biochar (0, 25, and 50 g kg-1) to evaluate wheat straw biochar's potential in alleviating salinity stress in alfalfa. Results showed that salinity stress increased oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde) and reduced chlorophyll fluorescence (maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II by 1-27%), leading to decreasing photosynthetic parameters, thereby constraining biomass accumulation by 9-77%. Wheat straw biochar amendment under the highest salinity stress, particularly at 25 g kg-1, mitigated oxidative stress by reducing H2O2 and MDA levels by 35% and 33%, respectively, while decreasing the antioxidant enzymes activities of CAT, POD, and SOD by 47%, 42%, and 39%, respectively, compared to the control (non-biochar addition). Concurrently, biochar restored the osmoregulatory substance…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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