Biostimulatory Effect of Biochar and Jeevamrut on the Potential of Trichoderma harzianum as a Growth Enhancer in Maize Seedlings

Arkesh Kedar Shenoy, Shaik Imran Hussain Choudhary and Vipul Kumar

Abstract

The adoption of biopesticides and biofertilizers is being encouraged worldwide as an ecologically sustainable and economically feasible alternative to harmful chemical inputs. The current study is based on one such fungal bioagent, Trichoderma harzianum, which plays an important role as a soil inhabiting biocontrol agent against various plant pathogenic microbes as well as a plant growth promoter. T. harzianum (Th azad, ITCC Acc No. 6796) acquired from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAUA and T) Kanpur was used for application along with different combinations of biochar and jeevamrut as treatments for maize seedlings. Analysis and comparisons were done based on physiological and biochemical parameters like germination percentage, shoot length, root mass, number of leaves, chlorophyll content and total phenolic content (TPC) respectively. In addition to this, microbiological parameters like microbial population in rhizospheric soil and endophytic root infection potential. The results showed that the co-application of T. harzianum with jeevamrut and biochar in combination as soil application showed the best growth rates as well as plant health. Collectively, the three inputs resulted in 130% increase in germination, 59.1% increase in seedling length and 246.13% increase in seedling vigor over control. Further comparison with control indicated improved nutrient uptake along with 32.78% increase in chlorophyll content, 159.4% increase in TPC, enhanced root mass formation by 536.84% and promoted rhizospheric microbial activity, which in turn lead to a healthier plant biochemistry and better seedling development. The combined treatment showed a 130% increase in seed germination and 59.1% increase in seedling length over control. The study demonstrates these bio-inputs’ potential for improving crop productivity through enhanced nutrient uptake and microbial activity.

Published on: November 15, 2023
doi: 10.17756/jfcn.2023-s1-078
Citation: Shenoy AK, Choudhary SIH, Kumar V. 2023. Biostimulatory Effect of Biochar and Jeevamrut on the Potential of Trichoderma harzianum as a Growth Enhancer in Maize Seedlings. J Food Chem Nanotechnol 9(S1): S620-S626.

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