Investigating the effects of natural and urban waste compost biochars on the morphological properties of Haloxylon in greenhouse condition

Nowadays, the addition of bio-charcoal to soils, as a way for carbon sequestration in the soil, reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air, improving soil fertility, and reducing wind erosion, has attracted much attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar application on yield and components of Haloxylon species in a randomized complete block design with soil additive factors including mycorrhizal fungi at two levels (consumption of 50 g of mycorrhiza and non-consumption of mycorrhiza), natural charcoal, and biochar produced from municipal waste compost at four levels (0, 50, 150 and 250 g / kg soil of dry soil), in the greenhouse of the Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran for nine months. The results showed that the addition of biochar had no significant effect on any of the morphological characteristics of Haloxylon persicum except root surface. The results also indicated that the average collar diameter, height, root area, fresh and dry weight of Haloxylon aerial parts in mycorrhiza-free treatments increased 31.9%, 35.7%, 15.5%, 56.9%, and 32.6%, respectively, and in mycorrhiza treatments, these characteristics increased by 4.7, 16.1, 11.1, 33.4, and 6.7%, respectively, as compared to the control treatment. Among the treatments studied, treatment nine (soil + 150 g natural charcoal + 250 g municipal waste compost) had the most positive effect on the morphological characteristics of Haloxylon.