Table 4 Influence of biochar, vermicompost, perlite and activated biochar application on carotenoid (Caro), chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), Total chlorophyll (Total Chl), photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), sub-stomatal CO₂ (C_i), stomatal conductance (g_s), and water use efficiency (WUE) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under 80% and 50% moisture of FC.

Non-amended soil + 80% M

1.14 ± 0.13 g-i

3.67 ± 0.023abc

1.948 ± 0.037 bc

5.62 ± 0.04 a-c

14.5 ± 1.9 b-d

4.71 ± 0.22 ce

475 ± 22.2 a

0.21 ± 0.04 a

3.08 ± 0.023 b-e

Non-amended soil + 50% M

2.15 ± 0.067 a

3.27 ± 0.051 g

1.75 ± 0.033 e

5.02 ± 0.08 h

3.34 ± 0.53 i

1.23 ± 0.21 j

119 ± 3.6 e–h

0.009 ± 0.007 f.

2.71 ± 0.034 c-f

2.5% Biochar amended soil + 80% M

1.2 ± 0.15 f.-i

3.66 ± 0.04 a-d

1.95 ± 0.03 ab

5.61 ± 0.04 a-d

17.9 ± 0.29 a

6.53 ± 0.37 a

273 ± 31 b-d

0.097 ± 0.032 b

2.74 ± 0.11 c-f

5% Biochar amended soil + 80% M

1.52 ± 0.05 cd

3.65 ± 0.03 a-e

1.95 ± 0.04 ab

5.60 ± 0.052 a-e

12.9 ± 1.9 b-e

4.04 ± 0.23 ef

235 ± 23 b-e

0.067 ± 0.03 b-e

3.18 ± 0.29 b-d

2.5% Biochar amended soil + 50% M

1.27 ± 0.06 e–h

3.66 ± 0.03 a-d

1.85 ± 0.029 d

5.39 ± 0.027 e–g

14.68 ± 2.18a-c

5.13 ± 0.35 cd

187 ± 85 d-g

0.067 ± 0.025 b-e

2.85 ± 0.23 b-f

5% Biochar amended soil + 50% M

1.71 ± 0.07 cd

3.47 ± 0.05 e–f

1.86 ± 0.03 d

5.33 ± 0.047 g

7.93 ± 1.06 gh

3.09 ± 0.25 gh

65 ± 31 gh

0.02 ± 0.0002 ef

2.56 ± 0.14 e–g

2.5% Vermicompost amended soil + 80% M

0.96 ± 0.056 ij

3.82 ± 0.08 a

1.95 ± 0.039 ab

5.79 ± 0.11 a

14.84 ± 0.45 ab

6.56 ± 0.42 a

281 ± 51 b-d

0.087 ± 0.011 bc

2.26 ± 0.08 f.–h

5% Vermicompost amended soil + 80% M

1.52 ± 0.087 c-e

3.48 ± 0.09 d-f

1.94 ± 0.035 a-c

5.42 ± 0.112 c-g

6.15 ± 0.89 hi

2.19 ± 0.12 i

84 ± 27.2 f.–h

0.017 ± 0.0057 ef

2.8 ± 0.25 c-f

2.5% Vermicompost amended soil + 50% M

0.69 ± 0.053 k

3.67 ± 0.03 a-c

1.87 ± 0.016 cd

5.54 ± 0.0342 b-g

13.7 ± 1.79 b-d

6.66 ± 0.34 a

333 ± 102 bc

0.08 ± 0.01 b-d

2.05 ± 0.164 gh

5% Vermicompost amended soil + 50% M

1.5 ± 0.058 c-e

3.5 ± 0.05 c-f

1.89 ± 0.01 b-d

5.39 ± 0.036 d-g

6.99 ± 1.76 gh

2.09 ± 0.14 ij

43 ± 10.8 h

0.02 ± 0.002 ef

3.31 ± 0.62 bc

2.5% Perlite amended soil + 80% M

1.35 ± 0.06 d-g

3.48 ± 0.08 d-f

1.962 ± 0.035 ab

5.44 ± 0.11 c-g

11.24 ± 1.07 d-f

4.34 ± 0.25 d-f

222 ± 49 b-e

0.053 ± 0.015 b-f

2.55 ± 0.136 e–g

5% Perlite amended soil + 80% M

1.94 ± 1.95 ab

3.46 ± 0.028 f.

1.979 ± 0.002 a

5.45 ± 0.029 c-g

7.31 ± 0.56 gh

2.13 ± 0.05 i

57 ± 12.4 gh

0.02 ± 0.002 ef

3.42 ± 0.182 b

2.5% Perlite amended soil + 50% M

1.01 ± 0.062 ij

3.66 ± 0.08 a-d

1.88 ± 0.008 b-d

5.55 ± 0.092 b-g

10.24 ± 0.2 e–g

3.74 ± 0.06 fg

204 ± 12 c-f

0.04 ± 0.002 c-f

2.73 ± 0.01 c-f

5% Perlite amended soil + 50% M

1.8 ± 0.07 b

3.51 ± 0.039 c-f

1.84 ± 0.015 d

5.35 ± 0.054 f.-g

7.19 ± 0.38 gh

4.04 ± 0.08 ef

346 ± 7 ab

0.047 ± 0.005b-f

1.77 ± 0.12 h

2.5% Activated biochar amended soil + 80% M

0.78 ± 0.16 jk

3.71 ± 0.099 ab

1.99 ± 0.002 a

5.69 ± 0.1 ab

12.89 ± 0.23 b-e

5.38 ± 0.16 bc

282 ± 21 b-d

0.077 ± 0.007 b-d

2.39 ± 0.03 f.–h

5% Activated biochar amended soil + 80% M

1.44 ± 0.07 d-f

3.61 ± 0.076 b-f

1.83 ± 0.015 d

5.59 ± 0.08 a-e

8.77 ± 0.66 f.–h

2.16 ± 0.01 i

219 ± 64 b-e

0.033 ± 0.0057 d-f

4.06 ± 0.12 a

2.5% Activated biochar amended soil + 50% M

1.08 ± 0.09 hi

3.53 ± 0.066 b-f

1.985 ± 0.005 a

4.45 ± 0.08 c-g

11.5 ± 0.24 c-f

2.79 ± 0.06 hi

113 ± 38.7 e–h

0.037 ± 0.0057c-f

4.11 ± 0.002 a

5% Activated biochar amended soil + 50% M

1.46 ± 0.05 c-e

3.71 ± 0.047 ab

1.86 ± 0.018 d

5.57 ± 0.06 a-f

15.67 ± 0.99 ab

6.22 ± 0.72 ab

281 ± 51 b-d

0.097 ± 0.0321 b

2.52 ± 0.13 e–h

P- value (Amendment)

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P value (Moisture %)

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P value (Amendment * Moisture %)

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