Influence of charged-biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on rice cell wall composition in iron toxicity-prone soils

Jamilah Jamilah (Universitas Tamansiswa)
Maradona Maradona (Tamansiswa University)
Fridarti Fridarti (Tamansiswa University)
Yulfi Desi (Universitas Ekasakti)
Nur Qursyna Boll Kasim (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Inawaty Sidabalok (Universitas Ekasakti)
Chrisnawati Chrisnawati (Univeritas Mahaputra Muhammad Yamin)

SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology
Vol. 23 No. 2 (2026): December

Iron toxicity severely constrains rice production on acidic soils by inducing nutrient imbalance and suppressing biomass accumulation. This study evaluated the effects of charged biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on rice growth, nutrient status, and cell wall dynamics under Fe-toxic conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted on a strongly acidic Ultisols (pH 4.63; Fe 3616.89 ppm) with AMF inoculation (0, 5, and 10%) and charged-biochar application (0, 2.5, and 5 t ha⁻¹). Both amendments significantly improved plant height, shoot dry weight, and forage dry weight (FDW), primarily through enhanced vegetative growth, nutrient-use efficiency, and root development. AMF colonization reached 68%, while charged biochar effectively ameliorated soil acidity and Fe stress. Regression analysis identified shoot dry weight, nitrogen content, ash (silica) content, and AMF colonization as the main determinants of FDW (R² = 0.996), whereas excessive plant phosphorus negatively affected yield. Cell wall components showed no direct association with FDW but contributed to tissue structural integrity. The combined application of charged biochar and AMF, supported by improved silica accumulation, provides an effective strategy to mitigate Fe toxicity and enhance rice forage productivity on acidic soils.