Enhancing Potato Crop Resilience against Rhizoctonia solani : A Sustainable Approach of Using Rice Husk-Derived Furfural and Biochar

Abstract The agricultural sector constantly seeks innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate plant diseases that compromise crop yield and quality. Rhizoctonia solani poses a significant threat to potato cultivation, causing black scurf disease and stem canker. This work explores the potential use of rice husk-derived furfural and biochar as eco-friendly, effective alternatives to conventional chemical fungicides for controlling Rhizoctonia solani growth in potato crops. The extraction of furfural and biochar from rice husk by using a simple chemical synthesis route was characterized by physicochemical and structural analysis. In vitro and screen house assessment demonstrated that furfural exhibits a strong fungistatic effect on Rhizoctonia solani, significantly inhibiting mycelia growth and enhancing the potato plant growth. Meanwhile, biochar also proves to be excellent in potato plant growth by improving soil health and suppressing the disease in a screen house pot experiment. Moreover, the combined use of furfural and biochar demonstrates a synergistic effect in reducing disease severity and promoting potato plant growth. The study discusses the potential mechanisms behind the observed antifungal activity of furfural and the role of biochar in enhancing the soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial activity, which collectively contribute to disease suppression. A lot of research work has been done on furfural and biochar extraction from rice husk and their use as antifungicides individually, but no research has been done on the impact on fungal growth with their combination. This research underscores the viability of using rice husk-derived furfural and biochar as an integrated disease management strategy to control Rhizoctonia solani in potatoes, offering a sustainable approach that leverages agricultural waste materials for crop protection.