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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/41
Biochar alleviates the drought stress by improving dry matter, glycine betaine,
antioxidant status and physiology of maize (Zea mays L.)

Liaqat Ali1. Natasha Manzoor2, Temoor Ahmed3, Hafiz Naeem Asghar4, Sajid Mehmood
Nadeem1, Muhammad Rashid Waqas1, Muhammad Yahya Khan1, Muhammad Naveed4
1Sub-Campus Burewala, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan;
2Department of Soil and Water Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193,
China
3State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310058, China
4Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad,
Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

Correspondence: liaqatali2188uaf@gmail.com
Abstract

Environmental factors such as drought adversely influence the maize (Zea mays L.) physiology
in arid and semiarid regions. Biochar as an organic amendment having salient features i.e. high
porosity, high surface area, high carbon content etc. could be more effective under drought
condition. Recent pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on dry matter,
proline, glycine betaine antioxidant enzymes and physiology of maize under drought stress.
Corn cobs biochar was pyrolyzed at 300 °C and 400 °C temperatures and mixing of biochar in
soil was done at the rate of 1% w/w and 3% w/w in pots except control. Three different field
capacity (FC) levels 100%, 70% and 40% were maintained gravimetrically in a glass house.
Results of the experiment indicated that biochar 3% w/w (400 °C) significantly increased the
dry matter of maize under drought stress. Proline and glycine betaine was reduced significantly
at field capacity 70% and 40%, and reduction was 47%, 40% and 23%, 21% respectively,
where biochar was applied at 3% w/w (400 °C) compared to control without biochar.
Furthermore, biochar application into the soil significantly improved the status of antioxidant
enzymes (POD, CAT, GR, GPX, etc.) and physiological parameters (water use efficiency,
carbon assimilation, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance) in maize under drought stress
compared to control treatment. Conclusively biochar application as organic amendment could
be an effective approach for improving dry matter and physiology of maize (Zea mays L.)
under drought stress

Keywords: Biochar, Proline, Glycine betaine, Glutathione reductase, WUE, Antioxidant

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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