Vol. 12, Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
N Kowsalya, K Swarajya Lakshmi, M Raja Naik, VV Padmaja and KV Naga Madhuri

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of biochar and gypsum in amelioration of ten ornamental plant species irrigated with saline water. Six months old ornamental plants were applied with salinity levels of 0, 6 and 9 dS m^-1. 100 g of biochar (2% of the total pot mass) was applied to one group of plants, while 20 g of gypsum was applied to the other. According to the results, elevating salt content in irrigation water lowered the plant spread, stem girth, number of leaves plant^-1, leaf area, root length, and root to shoot ratio. Because of its great capacity for adsorbing salt, using biochar at 2% of the total pot mass promoted the growth of ornamental plants. Gypsum application had a significant impact on reducing the negative effects of salt stress on ornamental plants that were irrigated with saline water, as it removed the most Na⁺ from the soil.