Table 5 The effect of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and deashed biochar (DAB) on chlorophyll a, b, total, carotenoids and electrolyte leakage of maize cultivated under no drought and drought stress

Field Capacity 70

0

1.23 ± 0.03a

1.23 ± 0.03a

0.34 ± 0.01a

0.36 ± 0.01c

1.48 ± 0.03a

1.68 ± 0.02d

0.76 ± 0.01a

0.83 ± 0.01c

0.5

1.39 ± 0.02 cd

1.39 ± 0.02 cd

0.36 ± 0.01bc

0.38 ± 0.01d

1.61 ± 0.04c

1.79 ± 0.02e

0.81 ± 0.01b

0.88 ± 0.01d

1.0

1.23 ± 0.03a

1.23 ± 0.03a

0.34 ± 0.01ab

0.38 ± 0.01d

1.56 ± 0.02b

1.71 ± 0.01d

0.77 ± 0.01a

0.86 ± 0.01d

Drought Stress

0

0.77 ± 0.01a

0.96 ± 0.02d

0.26 ± 0.01a

0.3 ± 0.01d

1.08 ± 0.03a

1.29 ± 0.03d

0.31 ± 0.03a

0.52 ± 0.04d

0.5

0.81 ± 0.02b

1.01 ± 0.02e

0.27 ± 0.01b

0.31 ± 0.01e

1.16 ± 0.03b

1.34 ± 0.02e

0.39 ± 0.01b

0.6 ± 0.04e

1.0

0.91 ± 0.02c

1.08 ± 0.05f

0.28 ± 0.01c

0.33 ± 0.01f

1.23 ± 0.03c

1.41 ± 0.04f

0.44 ± 0.03c

0.68 ± 0.01f

DAB (%)

Photosynthetic rate

(µmol CO₂/m²/s)

Transpiration rate

(mmol H₂O/m²/s)

Stomatal Conductance

(mol H₂O/m²/S)

Electrolyte Leakage

(%)

Field Capacity 70

0

18.87 ± 0.16a

21.72 ± 0.67c

1.27 ± 0.03a

1.55 ± 0.04d

2.05 ± 0.02a

2.32 ± 0.02d

40.27 ± 0.99c

34.26 ± 0.54e

0.5

20.23 ± 0.27b

22.77 ± 0.11d

1.46 ± 0.01c

1.72 ± 0.02f

2.24 ± 0.03c

2.47 ± 0.03f

35.48 ± 0.22a

26.9 ± 0.75 cd

1.0

19.34 ± 0.19a

22.31 ± 0.14 cd

1.38 ± 0.03b

1.65 ± 0.03e

2.14 ± 0.02b

2.38 ± 0.02e

37.05 ± 0.91b

30.74 ± 1.47d

Drought Stress

0

15.22 ± 0.13a

17.21 ± 0.48d

0.92 ± 0.03a

1.12 ± 0.01d

1.27 ± 0.03a

1.63 ± 0.07d

58.93 ± 0.27b

50.8 ± 2.70d

0.5

15.74 ± 0.26b

17.86 ± 0.1e

1 ± 0.03b

1.15 ± 0.02d

1.4 ± 0.06b

1.75 ± 0.03e

57.78 ± 0.56a

44.03 ± 0.5d

1.0

16.38 ± 0.18c

18.47 ± 0.21f

1.08 ± 0.03c

1.22 ± 0.02e

1.52 ± 0.04c

1.93 ± 0.06f

55.46 ± 1.77a

42.6 ± 0.62c