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Growth Improvement of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Irrigated with Saline Water Using Biochar and Spirulina Algae Extract

Research Authors
Mai O Fekri, Hala H Gomah, Mamdouh A Eissa
Research Abstract

The current study aims to use the foliar treatment with Spirulina algae extract (SP) at rate 2.5g/L and biochar (BC) at rate 2% as soil amendment to alleviate the negative effects of salinity on basil plants. The irrigation with 5 dS/m saline water reduced the plant height, leaf number, branch number, leaf area, total chlorophyll, fresh, and dry weight by 10, 31,31,40, 55, 46, and 33%, respectively, compared to the fresh water. The combined addition of BC and SP (SP+BC) to the saline irrigated plants significantly increased the last above-mentioned growth parameter by 6, 21, 50, 45, 170, 8, and 31% respectively compared to the saline water without addition. The increase in branch number is not significant. BC and SP significantly (p < 0.05) increased the soil organic matter (SOM). The content of SOM can be arranged in the descending order: BC > SP > C. The irrigation of basil plant with saline water significantly decreased the total N, P and K in basil shoots at rate 31, 61, and 24%, respectively, compared to the fresh water. The addition of BC+SP to the saline irrigated basil caused increases in N, P, and K content by 90, 116, and 60% compared to the saline water without addition. Overall, the results of this study explained that using Spirulina algae extract and biochar is a good solution for improving the growth of basil plant under salinity condition.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Assiut Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Research Year
2024