Effect of Biochar on Growth and Yield of Yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata) Under Salinity Stress

Abstract

One of the most popular vegetables worldwide is the yard long bean. Salinity is a significant environmental problem that causes lower yields in vegetable crop. Application of biochar is a crucial manure management practice that can be used to increase yard long bean production under saline conditions. An experiment was conducted at the research field of the Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh during the period from 1st March to 2nd June of 2022 to determine the potential of biochar on the growth and yield performance of yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) under salinity stress. The experiment consisted three treatments with two levels of biochar and each replicated three times following randomized complete block design. The treatment combinations were T0= no biochar +recommended doses of chemical fertilizer (RDF), T1= biochar (3 t ha-1) +RDF, T2= biochar (6 t ha-1) + RDF respectively. The tallest plant height (33.33 cm), minimum days of flowering (29.33 days), highest chlorophyll content (63.43), maximum number of leaf (61.43) and pod (56.33) per plant, highest pod weight (17.70 g), pod length (31.77 cm), pod diameter (0.98 cm), maximum number of seeds (13.67) per pod and also yield hectare (5.49 t) were found from T2 = biochar (6 t ha-1) + RDF under the soil with 0.1 M salinity stress, whereas lowest data was found from control T0= no biochar + RDF under the soil with 0.1 M salinity stress . The findings of experiment indicated that the application of biochar at the level of 6 t ha-1+ RDF enhanced the growth and yield performance of yard long bean under salinity stress.