Green waste biochar and plant growth-promoting bacteria enhance tomato growth under combined nutrient deficiency and salinity stress.

ABSTRACT: This study characterized a green-waste-derived biochar from date palms and ghaf trees and investigated its potential as a soil amendment with halotolerant Bacillus spp. to improve tomato seedling quality under dual stress of salinity and nutrient deficiency. Biochar was produced through pyrolysis at 450 °C and then characterized for yield, pH, electrical conductivity, proximate analysis, surface morphology, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and heavy-metal content. Its effectiveness was tested both alone and in combination with a Bacillus sp. mix, using a completely randomized design with varying NPK fertilizer levels and saline irrigation. Tomato seedlings were evaluated 45 days after planting for various vegetative, morphological, physiological, and nutrient content indicators. Under

SUBMITTER: Tounsi-Hammami S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816619 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature