Comparative Effectiveness of Biochar and Microplastic Amendments on Soil Fertility, Chlorophyll Content of Cereal Crops

This study aims to explore the effect of biochar and microplastic on soil fertility and chlorophyll content of barley. The results obtained from the analysis of physicochemical parameters of the soil reveal an increase in soil alkalinity with biochar, reaching 9.92 however microplastic indicate a pH of 11.5 observed for PL1 and 8.48 for PL0,the pH was 11.5.  Additionally, the electrical conductivity (EC) recorded a value of 464.01 µS/cm for biochar and 462.14µS/cm with microplastic. Regarding the total carbon content, the résults showed a no significant variation ranging from 1.31% for control to 1.44% for D2 of biochar , and a decrease with microplastic to 1.17% for PL2 in comparison with the control PL0 (1.55 %) . The plant response to microplastics and biochar showed a total chlorophyll content about  1.34 mg/g MF for the low dose PL1; however, for the PL2 dose, the value obtained is 1.46 mg/g MF. With biochar, total chlorophyll values ​​increase from 1.40 mg/g MF for D0 to 1.49 mg/g MF for D2.   The results obtained highlight substantial response to the application of biochar and microplastics on the physicochemical parameters of the soil and the chlorophyll content of barley.