Biochar amendment combined with partial root-zone drying irrigation alleviates salinity stress and improves root morphology and water use efficiency in cotton plant

An adsorption experiment and a pot experiment were executed in order to explore the mechanisms by which biochar amendment in combination with reduced irrigation affects sodium and potassium uptake, root morphology, water use efficiency, and salinity tolerance of cotton plants. In the adsorption experiment, ten NaCl concentration gradients (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, and 500 mM) were set for testing isotherm adsorption of Na⁺ by biochar. It was found that the isotherms of Na⁺ adsorption by wheat straw biochar (WSP) and softwood biochar (SWP) were in accordance with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the Na⁺ adsorption ability of WSP (55.20 mg g⁻¹) was superior to that of SWP (47.38 mg g⁻¹). The pot experiment consisted three factors, viz., three biochar amendments (no biochar, WSP, and SWP), three irrigation strategies (deficit irrigation, partial root-zone drying irrigation – PRD, full irrigation), and two NaCl concentrations gradients (0 mM and 200 mM). The findings indicated that salinity stress lowered K⁺ concentration, root length, root surface area, and root volume (RV), but increased Na⁺ concentration, root average diameter, and root tissue density. However, biochar amendment decreased Na⁺ concentration, increased K⁺ concentration, and improved root morphology. In particular, the combination of WSP and PRD increased K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, RV, root weight density, root surface area density, water use efficiency, and partial factor productivity under salt stress, which can be a promising strategy to cope with drought and salinity stress in cotton production.