Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, and Yield of Peanut in Response to Biochar Application

Shujun Wang; Junlin Zheng; Yujia Wang; Qingfeng Yang; Taotao Chen; Yinglong Chen; Daocai Chi; Guimin Xia; Kadambot H M Siddique; Tieliang Wang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.650432

Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, and Yield of Peanut in Response to Biochar Application

Front Plant Sci. 2021 May 31:12:650432. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.650432. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Shujun Wang¹, Junlin Zheng¹, Yujia Wang¹, Qingfeng Yang¹, Taotao Chen¹, Yinglong Chen^{2

3}, Daocai Chi¹, Guimin Xia¹, Kadambot H M Siddique^{2

3}, Tieliang Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering of Liaoning Province, College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
² The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
³ School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

Abstract

The effect of biochar application on photosynthetic traits and yield in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is not well understood. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in Northwest Liaoning, China to evaluate the effect of biochar application [0, 10, 20, and 40 t ha^-1 (B0, B10, B20, and B40)] on leaf gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and yield of peanut. B10 improved photochemical quenching at flowering and pod set and reduced non-photochemical quenching at pod set, relative to B0. B10 and B20 increased actual photochemical efficiency and decreased regulated energy dissipated at pod set, relative to B0. B10 significantly increased net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency at flowering and pod set, relative to B0. Compared with B0, B10 significantly improved peanut yield (14.6 and 13.7%) and kernel yield (20.2 and 14.4%). Biochar application increased leaf nitrogen content. B10 and B20 significantly increased plant nitrogen accumulation, as compared to B0. The net photosynthetic rate of peanut leaves had a linear correlation with plant nitrogen accumulation and peanut yield. The application of 10 t ha^-1 biochar produced the highest peanut yield by enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity, and is thus a promising strategy for peanut production in Northwest Liaoning, China.

Keywords: biochar; chlorophyll fluorescence; peanut yield; photosynthetic traits; plant nitrogen accumulation.