Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) ECOPERSIA 2322-2700 10 1 2022 12 01 Effect of Biochar on Physiological Characteristics of European Yew (Taxus baccata) Seedling in Different Light Intensities 61 69 17337 EN Marzieh Rezaei Karmozdi Department of Forest Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran Masoud Tabari Kouchaksaraei Department of Forest Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University 0000-0003-3267-1872 Seyed Ehsan Sadati Associate Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sari, Iran Journal Article <strong>Aim</strong> This investigation aims to study the effect of biochar on gas exchange, water relations and photosynthetic pigments of European yew (<em>Taxus baccata</em>) seedling in different light intensities (LI).<br> <strong>Materials and Methods </strong>Two-year potted seedlings of European yew are placed in forest stands with canopies of closed (15% LI), semi-closed (45% LI) and open (75% LI). In late June 2018, biochar was added to potted soils at the levels of zero, 10, 20 and 30 g.kg^-1 and until the end of November, every 3 (or 4) days 100 mL water was given to each pot.<br> <strong>Findings</strong> Seedling survival at different levels of treatments was 100%. Regardless of biochar, the highest photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, relative water content, chlorophyll (chl) contents in closed canopy, and the highest leaf temperature in open canopy was observed. With increasing biochar concentration, chl b and total chl increased (28-86%, respectively) in open canopy and decreased (28 and 28%, respectively) in closed canopy. Neither biochar nor LI affected significantly electrolyte leakage and carotenoid content. <br> <strong>Conclusion</strong> Although yew seedlings were able to maintain their vegetative quality and health in different LI, and the measured variables responded differently to light-biochar combination, it may be best to grow yew in shade together with biochar. Since, the effect of biochar becomes more tangible over time, further research in next years can lead to more accurate findings affected by the combined light-biochar treatment. https://ecopersia.modares.ac.ir/article_17337_b6666c8880a656847a6b36e85cccfd71.pdf