Synergistic effects of biochar and biopriming on growth and yield in blackgram (Vigna mungo) var. VBN 11

Blackgram (Vigna mungo) is a significant pulse crop, widely cultivated for its nutritional value and role in improving soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. However, its production is constrained by poor seed vigour, low nutrient use efficiency and vulnerability to abiotic and biotic stresses, which limit its yield potential. Biochar, a novel, low-cost and renewable carbonaceous material, has gained attention due to its numerous functional groups and tunable mesoporous structure, which contribute to enhanced soil fertility, nutrient retention and act as a carrier for the microbial inoculum. Similarly, biopriming, an eco-friendly seed treatment method, has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance seed germination, vigour and resilience under stress conditions. To explore the synergistic benefits of biochar and biopriming, an experiment was conducted at laboratory and field levels to assess their combined effect on blackgram (Vigna mungo) var. VBN 11. Seeds treated with Rhizobium 10 % + biochar at 100 g/kg recorded significantly higher physiological, biochemical, growth and yield parameters compared to untreated seeds, which exhibited lower performance across all traits. These findings highlight the potential of integrating biochar coating and biopriming to overcome production constraints in blackgram by improving seed quality, enhancing nutrient uptake and promoting sustainable crop productivity.