Canola is a major oilseed crop that is increasingly being grown in arid and semi-arid regions. However, canola plants are susceptible to drought stress, which can significantly reduce yields. This study investigated the potential of using biochar (BC) and plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPR) together to improve canola’s drought tolerance.

The study found that the combined application of BC and PGPR significantly improved the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic traits of canola plants under drought stress. This included increased emergence energy, leaf area index, root shoot ratio, and relative water content. Additionally, the combined treatment led to higher concentrations of nutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca) and osmolytes (glycine betaine and sugar), as well as enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, GR) and increased levels of phenolic compounds and total protein.

These findings suggest that the combined use of BC and PGPR could be a promising strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of drought stress on canola crops. This approach could help to improve crop yields and ensure food security in arid regions.

In addition to the above, here are some other interesting findings from the study:

• The combined application of BC and PGPR had a greater effect on drought tolerance than either treatment alone.
• The benefits of the combined treatment were more pronounced in the later stages of drought stress.
• The combined treatment also improved the overall health and vigor of the canola plants.

Overall, this study provides strong evidence that the combined use of BC and PGPR is a promising strategy for improving drought tolerance in canola. This approach has the potential to benefit canola growers in arid and semi-arid regions around the world.