The Importance of Initial Application of Biochar On Soil Fertility to Improve Growth and Productivity of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L .) Under Drought Stress

This study investigated the effects of biochar application under water stress on the whole agricultural complex by affecting soil properties. Irrigation was reduced to two levels, 75% and 45% soil water content (SWC) without biochar OB and with biochar WB, to induce drought stress. Also, 100% SWC was used as control with and without biochar. Biochar was applied to the soil at a rate of 20 g/kg, with pots arranged in a completely randomized design. The treated soil and the plants growing in it were tested for a variety of chemical, morphological, and physicochemical properties. In drought-stressed soils treated with biochar, pH, EC, and CEC were higher than in nontreated soils. In biochar treated soils, bioavailability of K‑ Mg- Ca- Na- Mn was also higher than in the untreated soils. All treatments, especially the 45% one, were relieved of drought stress by adding biochar. In comparison with no biochar application, adding biochar to plants that weren’t stressed significantly improved these measures. Under drought stress, normal conditions, with and without biochar application, morphological parameters such as plant height, leaf area, number of branches, fresh and dry weight, and productivity were measured. As a result of the use of biochar, all the above morphological parameters increased significantly, except for the height of the plants, which remained the same in all treatments. Biochar plays an important role in agricultural sustainability because of its role in improving soil structure and properties. Biochar may play a role in tomato tolerance to abiotic stress, and its modification may improve stress tolerance based on the finding that biochar is involved in tomato abiotic responses.