**2.4 Effect of rice husk biochar on days to maturity of maize under drought stress imposition**

Plants try to avoid drought conditions by completing their life cycle within the short times. Biochar helped to reduce the effects of drought stress on crops. Days to

**Figure 1.**

*Effect of rice husk biochar on days to flowering of maize under drought conditions. Bar indicates LSD at 5% level of significance.*

*Amelioration of Drought Tolerance in Maize Using Rice Husk Biochar DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88824*

of field capacity, and 40% of field capacity, highest plant heights of maize were 202.3, 195.6, and 173.3 cm, respectively, when biochar was applied at 20 t/ha, and lowest plant heights of maize were 175.3, 173.0, and 154.0 cm, respectively, when no biochar was applied. Drought conditions affected plant height, and biochar application increased plant height under drought conditions. Similar result was reported in maize by [21]. Addition of biochar improved plant height [22]. In rice, drought stress during the vegetative stage greatly reduced the plant height; [23] and

**2.3 Effect of rice husk biochar on days to flowering of maize under drought**

affected. Days to flowering of maize varied appreciably with different doses of

**2.4 Effect of rice husk biochar on days to maturity of maize under drought**

Plants try to avoid drought conditions by completing their life cycle within the short times. Biochar helped to reduce the effects of drought stress on crops. Days to

*Effect of rice husk biochar on days to flowering of maize under drought conditions. Bar indicates LSD at 5%*

Under drought conditions plant growth as well as days to flowering of maize was

Under control condition (80% of FC), 60% of field capacity, and 40% of field capacity, lowest days to flowering of maize were 52, 57, and 61 days, respectively, when biochar was applied at 20 t/ha, and highest days to flowering of maize were 60, 62, and 63 days, respectively, when no biochar was applied. Drought stress affected plant physiological process and biochar helps to maintain physiological activities thereby flowering of plants, improved plant growth and influenced days to flowering. [25] observed that the mung bean plants grown in soil amended with 8.5% and 15.75% wood biochar started flowering, pod filling, and maturing 6 to

[24] found that biochar increased the plant height of maize.

biochar under drought conditions (**Figure 1**).

7 days earlier than those grown in unamended soil.

**stress imposition**

**Figure 1.**

**62**

*level of significance.*

**stress**

*Maize - Production and Use*

maturity of maize plant were varied significantly at different doses of biochar under drought conditions (**Figure 2**).

Under control condition (80% of FC), 60% of field capacity, and 40% of field capacity, highest days to maturity of maize were 136, 135, and 133 days, respectively, when biochar was applied at 20 t/ha, and lowest days to flowering of maize were 131, 130, and 128 days, respectively, when no biochar was applied. Application of biochar increased the water-holding capacity of silty sand under maize cultivation in pots; [26] and [27] reported that biochar helped in maintaining normal physiological functions including maturity of wheat under saline conditions. [28] observed that biochar application increased tomato growth and life cycle under saline conditions.
