Department of Biology Discusses a Master’s Thesis on the Effectiveness of Organic Soil Amendments in Enhancing Vegetative Growth and Reducing Oxidative Stress in Pepper Plants

The Department of Biology at the College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Samarra, discussed a master’s thesis entitled “The Effectiveness of Some Organic Soil Amendments in Enhancing Vegetative Growth and Reducing Oxidative Stress in Green Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Grown Under Salinity Stress Conditions,” presented by the student Aseel Shaker Mahmood.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of organic soil amendments in alleviating the metabolic and vegetative damage associated with salinity stress. It also investigated the role of these organic amendments in reducing oxidative stress in sweet pepper plants.

The results demonstrated that the application of biochar significantly reduced the adverse effects of salinity stress, enhanced the plant’s photosynthetic capacity, and increased the levels of photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, the combined application of biochar and volcanic rock effectively reduced oxidative stress in pepper plants by lowering the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), enhancing the absorption of toxic ions present in the soil, and increasing the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids.