Optimizing Sunflower Growth, Nutrient Assimilation, and Biochemical Attributes under Salinity Stress Using a Combination of Sulfur-Treated Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Soil salinity is a major issue that lowers the crop yield. Biochar is an organic amendment to the soil that mitigates the drastic effects of salinity. However, high pH is a problem in arid and semi-arid regions due to the use of biochar. Hence, the sulfur-treated biochar covers this problem to some extent. Furthermore, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae also helps to cope with stressful environments. A limited study is done for the combined application of these strategies. To investigate this, the sulfur-treated biochar and AMF are evaluated for their individual and combined effects on the growth of sunflower plants under saline conditions. The study results revealed that the individual effect proved better, but the combination of BS and AMF showed a remarkable increase in the growth of sunflower plants in a saline environment. The integrated use of AMF and BS increases the plant agronomic attribute, NPK, and improves gas exchange parameters. The Electrolyte leakage was minimal where integrated application of AMF and BS was applied. The antioxidants that combat the ROS were found to be lower at combined application. This study opens a wide avenue for research exploration for the mitigation of salinity stress in the sunflower crop.