Effect of Applying Biochar on some Soil Chemical Properties, Pathogenic Fungi and Tomato Productivity in North Sinai

Abstract

This study examined the effects of biochar on sandy loam soil at a private farm in EL-Sakska, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, throughout two some chemical proparties sequential summer seasons in 2020 and 2021 with three treatments. Results in both seasons indicated that, the highest values of soil properties (pH, EC, CEC) were recorded with biochar and control, respectively in both seasons. The lowest values (EC, CEC) were obtained with (Biochar + Recommended fertilization). While the highest value of the fresh and dry weight of tomato and NPK in leaves and fruits, fruit quality (TSS and vitamin C), and plant total marketable tomato fruit yield per fed, were recorded with the application of (Biochar + Recommended fertilization) in both seasons and the lowest value was obtained with control.Furthermore, biochar treatment and Biochar with recommended fertilization, were significantly effective in reducing incidences of root rot and wilt, with plant survival rates of 89.57% and 81.54 %, respectively. These findings provide an intriguing starting point for using complicated biochar formulations into plant systemic disease management techniques. Our findings show that biochar amendment causes tomato seedlings to successfully resist infection with certain important pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. Thus, results obtained in this study may indicate that biochar could be safely used as an environmental-friendly method for disease control and crop yield enhancement. keywords: Biochar, tomato, fertilization, and pathogenic fungi.