Evaluation of biochar and mycorrhiza effects on yield, quality and photosynthetic pigments of coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) under drought stress condition

Shayanmehr, Salar; Ilkaee, Mohammad Nabi; Paknejad, Farzad; Pourhoseini, Leila; Mostafavi, Khodadad

Evaluation of biochar and mycorrhiza effects on yield, quality and photosynthetic pigments of coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) under drought stress condition

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

² Department of Horticulture Science, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

Cultivation of coneflower medicinal plant has long been of interest to farmers and researchers. Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses in plant cultivation, and providing solutions to combat it is very important. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar and mycorrhiza on yield and some physiological traits of coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) under drought stress conditions. A split-plot factorial experiment was conducted over two-years (2023-2024) using randomized complete block design with three replications. Drought stress at three levels [D1: normal irrigation (control), D2: 50% F.C. and, D3: 70% F.C.] applied in the main plots and biochar at three levels: [B1: non-consumption (control), B2: 10 t.ha-1, and B3: 20 t.ha-1], and mycorrhiza symbiosis at two levels: [C1: non-consumption (control), C2: 10 g .seedling-1] were placed in subplots. The results showed that organic inputs increased the yields and physiological traits of coneflower and decreased drought stress effects. Interaction of normal irrigation (control) ×biochar (20 t.ha-1) × mycorrhiza improved dry matter yield (60.36%), flower dry weight (98.45%), essential oil yield (156.66%), compared to the drought stress 70% F.C. without biochar and mycorrhiza (lowest one). Moderate (50% F.C.) drought stress increased phenols and flavonoids compared to the other treatments. In general, severe drought stress (70% F.C.) significantly reduces productivity and is not recommended. However, in arid and semi-arid regions, the use of organic fertilizer like mycorrhiza and biochar as an environmental friendly inputs are recommended to reduce drought stress damage.

Keywords

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