Research Article

Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth

Volume: 47 Number: 1 February 27, 2026

Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth

Abstract

This study investigated the synergistic effects of various arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculations and organic amendments on the development and photosynthetic efficiency of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedlings. The experimental design included different doses of compost and biochar derived from two distinct feedstocks: Eucalyptus and Phragmites australis. The results showed that biochar derived from P. australis significantly outperformed eucalyptus biochar in enhancing Photosystem II (PSII) efficiency across different soil types (Kızıltapır and Balcalı). While all mycorrhizal treatments improved growth compared to non-inoculated controls, seedlings inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus showed greater improvements in terms of plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and PSII efficiency than those with indigenous mycorrhizae. A significant interaction was observed between the type of amendment and the mycorrhizal species: plants associated with indigenous AMF showed optimal benefits at amendment rates up to 20 t ha-1, whereas those inoculated with Rh. clarus reached peak performance at a lower threshold of 10 t ha-1. Overall, integrating P. australis biochar and Rh. clarus inoculation is a highly effective strategy for optimizing the nursery production of citrus seedlings.

Keywords

Biochar, Compost, Eucalyptus and phragmites australis, Photosynthetic (PSII) efficiency, Sour orange seedlings

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APA
Ortaş, İ., Akpınar, Ç., Yılmaz, B., & Demirbaş, A. (2026). Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 47(1), 65-76. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1781615
AMA
1.Ortaş İ, Akpınar Ç, Yılmaz B, Demirbaş A. Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth. CSJ. 2026;47(1):65-76. doi:10.17776/csj.1781615
Chicago
Ortaş, İbrahim, Çağdaş Akpınar, Bilge Yılmaz, and Ahmet Demirbaş. 2026. “Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 (1): 65-76. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1781615.
EndNote
Ortaş İ, Akpınar Ç, Yılmaz B, Demirbaş A (February 1, 2026) Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47 1 65–76.
IEEE
[1]İ. Ortaş, Ç. Akpınar, B. Yılmaz, and A. Demirbaş, “Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth”, CSJ, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 65–76, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.17776/csj.1781615.
ISNAD
Ortaş, İbrahim - Akpınar, Çağdaş - Yılmaz, Bilge - Demirbaş, Ahmet. “Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal 47/1 (February 1, 2026): 65-76. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1781615.
JAMA
1.Ortaş İ, Akpınar Ç, Yılmaz B, Demirbaş A. Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth. CSJ. 2026;47:65–76.
MLA
Ortaş, İbrahim, et al. “Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth”. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, vol. 47, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 65-76, doi:10.17776/csj.1781615.
Vancouver
1.İbrahim Ortaş, Çağdaş Akpınar, Bilge Yılmaz, Ahmet Demirbaş. Effects of Biochar, Compost and Mycorrhizal Treatments on Photosynthetic Productivity and Plant Growth. CSJ. 2026 Feb. 1;47(1):65-76. doi:10.17776/csj.1781615