Impact of Wheat Straw Biochar and Lignite on Plant Growth of Astragalus podolobus Boiss. & Hohen

Aims: Biochar is a soil amendment used to improve soil quality and plant productivity in an agricultural application, and there were fewer researches to use it in rangeland species. This study aimed to determine if lignite and wheat straw biochar (WSB) could be used to promote Astragalus podolobus growth, inclusive Plant height, crown diameter, canopy cover, the volume of cover, leaf area, and leaf perimeter. In this study, it is assumed that WSB and lignite’s use will increase the growth of A. podolobus species. A. podolobus, as a palatable shrub from the Leguminosae family, is a native species of Turkmen Sahra. Materials & Methods: A greenhouse experiment was designed with (WSB) and lignite, at 1.25%, 2.5%, and 3.75%w/w of soil in six replications. The soil texture was clay loam. Statistical analyses were performed by two-way analysis of variance using the SPSS16 statistical software. Findings:  In lignite application, the highest height, crown diameter, canopy cover, and volume of cover were observed for a 3.75% application rate after the 4th month and were 25.03cm, 23.52cm, 528.65cm2, and 15581cm3, respectively. While the highest values of these parameters for WSB were obtained for 2.5% of the application rate after the fourth month and were 22.62cm, 20.66cm, 401.66cm2, and 11318.3cm3, respectively. Conclusion: Plant height, crown diameter, canopy cover, the volume of cover, leaf area, and leaf perimeter were promoted by increasing lignite dosage (3.75%) in the soil while nearly all parameters decreased at the same WSB incorporation dose.