The effect of biochar application and root inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on growth and yield of Aloe vera

Aloe vera is an important medicinal plant with high economic value in the world, which is widely used in various industries such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food. In order to investigate the effect of simultaneous application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on growth, yield and aloin latex of A. vera at two harvest a factorial experiment with six replications was conducted. Experimental factors included three levels of biochar (without biochar (control), ۲۵۰ and ۵۰۰ g per pot) and two levels of arbuscular mycorrhiza (non inoculation and inoculation). According to the results at both harvest times, mycorrhiza inoculation had the greatest additive effect on the different characteristics compared to other treatments. Then, application of ۲۵۰ g of biochar along with inoculation with mycorrhiza improved the growth and yield of A.vera. Inoculation with mycorrhiza and its additive effect on morphological traits such as number of leaves ۱۵.۰۰ and ۱۷.۷۵ per plan, leaf length ۵۹.۶۲ and ۶۵.۰۰ cm, leaf width ۷.۲۹ and ۸.۱۴ cm, leaf thickness ۳.۷۰ and ۳.۹۵ cm, plant height ۳۵.۷۵ and ۷۴.۰۰ cm in the first and second harvest, respectively, as well as plant yield such as number of pups ۱۳.۷۵ and ۲۵.۰۰ per plant , leaf weight ۲۳۹.۶۷ and ۳۳۰.۴۳ g, root fresh weight of ۲۷۵.۷۴ and gel to peel ratio ۳.۱۵ and ۳.۷۱ were obtained in the first and second harvest, respectively. The highest amount of aloin latex at two harvest times were ۳.۵۰ and ۸.۶۶ g with inoculation. In A. vera, leaf yield and gel production as well as increasing aloin synthesis are important considering the preservation and improvement of soil properties; Therefore, according to the results, inoculation with mycorrhiza can be effective to achieve the highest yield and growth of the A. vera. Also, the application of high amounts of biochar for the A. vera is not recommended.

Keywords:

Aloe vera , Aloin , Biochar , mycorrhiza , Yield