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

Under drought conditions plant growth as well as days to flowering of maize was affected. Days to flowering of maize varied appreciably with different doses of biochar under drought conditions (**Figure 1**).

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 7 days earlier than those grown in unamended soil.
