Biochar is now gaining awareness as a sustainable tool for soil health improvement, boosting carbon (C) storage and the enhancement of nutrient cycling in agricultural soils. This study assesses the effects of biochar on soil respiration, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) in savanna soils over a 45-day incubation trail in the laboratory. Four different biochar treatments (0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha) were used in the study. The treatments were established at 26°C, and after 2, 5, and 10 days, the CO2 levels were recorded. After incubation for 0, 5, 10, and 45 days, the EC and pH were assessed. As the rate of application of biochar increased, the rate of CO2 evolution increased as well. During the first two days of incubation, the CO2 evolution rate rose by a value of 129 at 2 t/ha biochar, 146 at 4 t/ha biochar, and 168 ug CO2/g soil/d at 6 t/ha biochar above the 0 t/ha biochar. Following five days of incubation, the amounts of CO2 evolution that were higher than the control were 99 with 2 t/ha, 116 with 4 t/ha, and 120 ug CO2/g soil/d with 6 t/ha of biochar. The increase in CO2 evolution above the control treatment at 10 days of incubation was 61 with 2 t/ha, 79 with 4 t/ha, and 87 ug CO2/g soil/d with 6 t/ha of biochar. Analogously, rising patterns in CO2 emissions were noted. Throughout the whole incubation period, the biochar treatments' soil EC and pH were greater than those of the control treatment. After applying biochar, there were increases in the evolution of CO2, however after 10 days of incubation, the percentage of C evolved from the addition of biochar decreased as the rates of biochar increased. At two t/ha, four t/ha, and six t/ha, the percentage C developed was 1.74 %, 1.66%, and 0.82% of the applied biochar C, respectively. Although the CO2 evolved ratio to the total amount of biochar C typically reduced with increasing biochar rates, this study shows that the addition of biochar increases soil respiration, EC, and pH.

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla Moq.), which is grown as a vegetable in Turkey and well adapted to the Marmara region, was used in our experiments. Provided by a producer, chard seedlings were grown in 6 L plastic bags in a non-heated plastic greenhouse. Starting from the 4-5 true-leaf stage to harvest, sodium chloride (NaCl)-added tap water at 5 different electricity conductivity (EC) values [(0. 4 (tap water, control), 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS/m)] was used as irrigation water. The results showed that the EC of the irrigation water affected some of the morphological and physiological properties of chard. An increase in the EC value of irrigation water led to a decrease in the number of leaves, leaf weight, leaf area, plant length, root length, chlorophyll content and increase in the injury level in the leaves and leaf thickness of Swiss chard. The changes observed upon the application of irrigation water with an EC of 16 dS/m were 50% greater than those observed in the control plants, whereas irrigation water with an EC of 32 dS/m results in severe discoloration and yellowing, but the plant was still alive. Therefore, chard growing can be suggested in agricultural areas with salinity problems.