Biochar application mitigates salt stress on maize plant: Study of the agronomic parameters, photosynthetic activities and biochemical attributes

Climate change had caused many threats soil ecosystem, among them, soil salinity. Thus several strategies are suggested to mitigate this issue. In this context, biochar is known as a potent amendment able to alleviate the salt stress on the crops. Thus, the aim of the present investigation is to assess the impact of two salt levels (C1: 1.25 and C2: 2.5 g l−1) and two biochar rates (B1:50 g kg−1; B2: 100 g kg−1) on the agronomic, biochemical and physiological responses of maize plants (Zea mays L.). Our results revealed firstly an increase in maize biomass under salinity stress and in presence of 50g of biochar, indicating the important role of biochar in mitigating salt toxicity. Also, B1 biochar rate attenuated salt-induced oxidative stress by increasing glutathion-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activities. Also, biochar increased chlorophyll b (Chlb) in plants treated with salt water. Overall, it can be concluded that biochar may be a useful strategy to reduce the harmful effects of salinity. However, biochar rates must be carefully used in saline soils to ameliorate plant development and reduce the toxicity of salt stress