Drought is significant abiotic stress that affects the development and yield of many crops. The present study is to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and
biochar on root morphological traits, growth, and physiological traits in soybean under
water stress. Impact of AMF and
biochar on development and root morphological traits in soybean and AMF spores number and the soil
enzymes' activities were studied under drought conditions. After 40 days, plant growth parameters were measured. Drought stress negatively affected soybean growth, root parameters, physiological traits, microbial biomass, and soil
enzyme activities.
Biochar and AMF individually increase significantly plant growth (plant height, root dry weight, and nodule number), root parameters such as root diameter, root surface area, total root length, root volume, and projected area, total
chlorophyll content, and
nitrogen content in soybean over to control in
water stress. In drought conditions, dual applications of AMF and
biochar significantly enhanced shoot and root growth parameters, total
chlorophyll, and
nitrogen contents in soybean than control. Combined with
biochar and AMF positively affects AMF spores number, microbial biomass, and soil
enzyme activities in
water stress conditions. In drought stress, dual applications of
biochar and AMF increase microbial biomass by 28.3%, AMF spores number by 52.0%, alkaline
phosphomonoesterase by 45.9%,
dehydrogenase by 46.5%, and
fluorescein diacetate by 52.2%, activities. The combined application of
biochar and AMF enhance growth, root parameters in soybean and soil
enzyme activities, and
water stress tolerance. Dual applications with
biochar and AMF benefit soybean cultivation under
water stress conditions.