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Combined Use of TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles and Biochar Produced from Moss (<i>Leucobryum glaucum</i> (Hedw.) Ångstr.) Biomass for Chinese Spinach (<i>Amaranthus dubius</i> L.) Cultivation under Saline Stress
oleh: Ivan Širić, Sadeq K. Alhag, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Boro Mioč, Valentino Držaić, Sami Abou Fayssal, Vinod Kumar, Jogendra Singh, Piyush Kumar, Rattan Singh, Rakesh Kumar Bachheti, Madhumita Goala, Pankaj Kumar, Ebrahem M. Eid
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-09-01 |
Deskripsi
Salinity-induced soil degradation poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity and requires innovative crop-management strategies. In this study, the synergistic effect of biochar and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles (NPs) obtained from moss (<i>Leucobryum glaucum</i> (Hedw.) Ångstr.) biomass on the growth, yield, biochemical, and enzymatic response of Chinese spinach (<i>Amaranthus dubius</i> L.) grown under salinity stress was investigated. Purposely, <i>A. dubius</i> was grown under different combinations of arable soil, biochar, TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs, and saline soils. The produced biochar and TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs were characterized using microscopy image analysis, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), zeta potential, particle size distribution, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that saline stress caused a significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) decline in growth, yield, and biochemical constituents of <i>A. dubius</i> compared to control treatments. However, the combined application of biochar and TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) alleviated the saline stress and resulted in optimum fresh weight (30.81 g/plant), dry weight (4.90 g/plant), shoot and root length (28.64 and 12.54 cm), lead number (17.50), leaf area (12.50 cm<sup>2</sup>/plant), chlorophyll (2.36 mg/g), carotenoids (2.85 mg/g), and relative water content (82.10%). Biochar and TiO<sub>2</sub>-NP application helped to reduce the levels of stress enzymes such as catalase (2.93 µmol/min/mg P), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 2.47 EU/g P), peroxidase (POD: 40.03 EU/min/g P), and ascorbate peroxidase (3.10 mM/mg P) in saline soil. The findings of this study suggest that the combination of nanotechnology and biochar derived from unconventional biomass can be a viable option to mitigate salinity-related challenges and enhance crop yield.