Biochar and Biofertilizer: A Green approach for Improving Wheat Yields in Egypt

Abstract

Wheat is a key cereal crop; it is crucial for ensuring worldwide food security and is the world's second most produced crop. The current national priority is to improve wheat productivity in Egypt. Excessive mineral fertilizers boost wheat yields but are costly and harm ecosystems. Using organo or / and bio fertilizers containing growth promoting or nitrogen fixing microbes offers a sustainable, cost-effective alternative. A field experiment evaluated the impact of integrating biochar, inoculating Tildeniella torsiva NA3 (T. torsiva NA3), Anabaena fertilissima (A. fertilissima), and Azolla pinnata extract  (biofertilizer), along with recommended fertilizers, on the yield of two wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum cvs. Sids 14 and Sakha 95) during season (2022 / 2023). Our findings reveal that the addition of biochar and biofertilizer notably improved soil health, increased chlorophyll a and b contents, enhanced grain quality, and boosted wheat yield components in Sids 14 and Sakha 95. For instance, Integrating 50% N and biofertilizer (N6) with biochar significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) nitrogenase (Nase) enzyme activity and CO₂ evolution in Sids-14 by 2908.39% and 125.27%,  respectively, compared to the full-recommended dose 100%N, (N1). Additionally, in Sids-14, chlorophyll a and b levels rose by 117.2% and 120%, while in Sakha 95, chlorophyll a and b increased by 120.7% and 121.12% under the N2 treatment (100% N, biofertilizer) in presence of biochar, comparing to standard dose of mineral fertilizer to each cultivar. These findings suggest that biochar, when combined with biofertilizers, can be an effective strategy for improving soil health, wheat growth, nutrient uptake, and overall
productivity, offering a sustainable approach for enhancing agricultural performance in wheat cultivation.