Effect of bio-enriched biochar on growth parameters of Jamun plants (Syzygium cumini)

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of bio-enriched biochar on the growth performance of Jamun (Syzygium cumini) seedlings under nursery conditions. Five treatments with varying biochar-to-bio-organic manure ratios were evaluated in a Completely Randomized Design, with parameters such as plant height, leaf dimensions, root traits, shoot width, and internode length recorded over 12 months. Results demonstrated significant variation among treatments, with T3 (40% biochar + 60% bio-organic manure) consistently outperforming others across all growth parameters. Seedlings under T3 exhibited superior height (10.38 cm), leaf length (4.48 cm), leaf width (2.48 cm), root width (3.02 mm), and internode length (3.04 cm) compared to the control (T1), which showed the least growth. The enhanced performance of T3 is attributed to improved soil porosity, aeration, nutrient retention, and microbial activity facilitated by the optimized biochar-manure blend. These findings highlight bio-enriched biochar as a sustainable potting medium, with the 40:60 ratio proving most effective for Jamun seedling growth.