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Estimation of critical competition period of red sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis L.) in direct-seeded fine grain rice (Oryza sativa L.)
(Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2025-02-05) Muhammad Ehsan Safdar; Muhammad Sikander Hayyat; Rizwan Maqbool; Muhammad Aamir Iqbal; Rafi Qamar; Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed; Amjed Ali; Mohammad Sohidul Islam; Ibrahim Al-Ashkar; Zeki Erden; Çağdaş Can Toprak; Ayman El Sabagh
Red sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis L.) has become one of the most troublesome weeds for direct-seeded rice (DSR). The degree of cost-effectiveness of any weed control strategy against this weed needs accurate information about its critical timing of weed removal (CTWR) in DSR production system. A two-year field study was executed to estimate yield losses and critical period of competition of red sprangletop weed in the fine-grain DSR. Experimental treatments were crop-weed competition periods of 7, 8, 9, 10 weeks after emergence (WAE) of rice crop. A full season weed free and weed infested plots were also kept as controls for comparison purpose. Results exhibited that during both years, each successive prolongation in weed competition period significantly increased red sprangletop dry weight and its N, P and K uptake causing significant reduction in yield attributes and paddy yield. Consequently, during years 2018 and 2019, the highest values of weed dry weight (1168 and 1452 kg ha(-1), respectively) and N, P and K uptakes (33.5 and 41.7, 7.67 and 9.62, 31.1 and 42.3 kg ha(-1), respectively) were recorded with full season red sprangletop competition. In comparison to weed free control, this treatment resulted in the highest reduction in plant height (30-49%), panicle length (23-45%), tillers m(-2) (66-78%), grains panicle(-1) (42-61%), 1000-grain weight (31-24%), paddy yield (65-75%) and biological yield (67-70%). The logistic model estimated the CTWR of red sprangletop in DSR to be initial 33-49 DAE and 31-52 DAE in order to prevent 10% yield losses during years 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Seed priming and phosphorus fertilization boost nutrient biofortification of lentil plants
(Polish Society for Magnesium Research, 2024-09-24) Mustafa Ceritoglu; Mustafa Ceritoglu; Murat Erman; Fatih Çığ
This experiment investigated effects of seed priming and phosphorus fertilization on the biofortification of lentil plants grown under low-phosphorus field conditions. Four phosphorus doses and six priming treatments were used in the experiment. According to results, 15 and 30 kg P ha-1 significantly increased the nitrogen concentration in plants while all phosphorus doses stimulated greater magnesium accumulation over control. Higher phosphorus addition restricted potassium acquisition by 9.5% under high-potassium soils. Moreover, 15 kg P ha-1 application of salicylic acid, citric acid, inorganic phosphorus or plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) distinctly promoted the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc. PGPB mostly promoted nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, while citric acid priming highly stimulated the acquisition of Mg, Mn and Fe. All priming treatments were lower than the control for potassium accumulation, in which the lowest value was observed in PGPB-primed plants, because it can solubilize phosphorus compounds in rhizosphere, thereby causing an antagonistic effect on potassium uptake. Seed priming with 4 mM silicon enhanced copper accumulation in tissues up to 9.4%. Priming with 100 mg kg-1 citric acid promoted iron, magnesium and manganese accumulation by 13.8%, 3.8% and 4.7% compared with control, respectively. In conclusion, phosphorus addition boosted macro-and micronutrient acquisition, although the 15 kg P ha-1 dose is recommended from an economic perspective. Also, phosphorus application and seed priming treatments exhibited synergistic effects on nutrient acquisition depending on a nutrient element. Finally, seed priming with PGPB, 4 mM salicylic acid and 100 mg kg-1 citric acid exhibited superior performance on nutrient uptake in lentil.
Strategies to Enhance Biomass Production in Forage Crops Under Challenging Environments
(Springer Nature Singapore, 2025) Ayman El Sabagh; Muhammad Aamir Iqbal; Allah Wasaya; Muhammad Irfan; Karthika Rajendran; Rabia Zahid; Humaira Yasmin; Taslima Zahan; Uzma Younis; Atikur Rehman; Divya Nagarajan; Saravanan Sivarajan; Parthasarathi Theivasigamani; Mohammad Sohidul Islam
Forages are an important source of nutrition and health benefits for dairy animals. Forage growth, nutritional quality, biomass, and yield are important agronomic traits that are severely impacted by a number of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and chilling injury. The impact of these diverse stresses on fodder crops has received comparatively little attention. To address these issues, we presented a thorough analysis of the negative effects of abiotic stresses in this chapter, as well as farmer-friendly agronomic management techniques such as nitrogen fertilizer application, irrigation management, and optimizing soil conditioning through tillage to conserve moisture and increase soil water retention capacity. These approaches would particularly help to ensure water supply, biomass production, and drought stress alleviation. To aid in the recovery of saline, sodic, and saline-sodic soils, calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) enhanced fertilizers should be used instead of Na+, and salt leaching should be permitted through frequent irrigations. Heat-tolerant/adaptive cultivars can minimize crop-growing areas while protecting plants, soils, and the environment from the harmful impacts of abiotic stresses. Abiotic stress damage to forage crops can be significantly reduced by cultivating N2-fixing legume forages, introducing environmentally friendly plant-nutrient benefit-providing symbionts, and using organic amendments such as plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM), biochar, mineral nutrition, and organic acids (OA). Furthermore, these methods create new prospects for smart and sustainable agriculture.
Enhancing crop resilience to water stress through iron nanoparticles: A critical review of applications and implications
(Elsevier BV, 2025-06) Tajwar Alam; Sanaullah Jalil; Ghulam Jilani; Arshad Nawaz Chaudhry; Zia Ul-Haq; Iram Naz; Muhammad Abbas Khan; Xinghong Yang; Marian Brestic; Milan Skalicky; Ayman El Sabagh
Among the abiotic stresses, water stress is a key factor that limits agricultural productivity worldwide by reducing crop yield through numerous biochemical and physiological disruptions. The use of nanomaterials in commercially available products is rapidly expanding, with significant applications in agriculture and phytoremediation. Current advancements in nanotechnology have introduced iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) as a promising approach to enhance crop resilience against stress conditions. Iron (Fe) plays a critical role in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, chlorophyll synthesis, and oxidative stress management, which are pivotal to plant response against water stress. Due to high surface area, small size, and controlled reactivity, Fe-NPs exhibit exceptional advantages over traditional Fe sources, viz., improved bioavailability and nutrient uptake. The current review explores Fe-NP's potential to mitigate the adverse effects of water stress in crop plants by activating various beneficial mechanisms, including improvement in antioxidant defence, osmotic adjustment, and modulating stress related to phytohormones. Particularly, Fe-NPs improve water use efficiency (WUE) and root development, facilitating water and nutrient uptake under stress conditions. Moreover, Fe-NPs assist in antioxidant enzyme regulation, which reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby reducing oxidative damage and sustaining the metabolic activities of plants under limited water availability. However, Fe-NP use in agriculture poses potential health and environmental risks, including water and soil contamination, soil microbial alteration, and residues in edible crop plants, which require careful consideration. Furthermore, Fe-NP effectiveness may vary depending on factors, viz., size of nanoparticles (NPs), concentration, method of application, and crop type. The paper concludes by discussing potential research avenues, highlighting the necessity of sustainable application methods, optimal Fe-NP formulations, and thorough environmental effect evaluations. Fe-NPs are a promising element in creating next-generation, nano-enabled farming techniques meant to increase crop resistance to water stress, which could ultimately improve food security in the face of a changing climate.
Nano-Priming as Seed Priming Technology for Sustainable Agriculture
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Fatih Çiğ; Rojin Özek; Murat Erman; Sipan Soysal; Özge Uçar; Zeki Erden; Mustafa Ceritoğlu; Çağdaş Can Toprak; Sönmez Özbey; Muhammad A. Raza; Javeed A. Lone; Saifullah Abro; Muhammad Arshad; Mehmet Efe
Agriculture is threatened by climate change and by the depletion of resources and biodiversity. Exploring new farming methods is needed to increase crop production and ensure food quality and safety in a sustainable way. Nanotechnology is an emerging trend that contributes to sustaining agricultural production. Seed nano-priming helps improve seed germination, seedling emergence, growth, and yield by resisting various plant stresses. Nano-priming is a more effective method than any other seed preparation method. Studies have shown several benefits of using seed nano-priming. By regulating biochemical pathways and the balance between reactive oxygen species and plant growth hormones, nano-priming helps increase resistance against stresses and diseases with the limited use of pesticides and fertilizers.Moreover, nano-priming prevents the continued damage caused by conventional agriculture, resulting in an environmentally safer system for farmers and consumers. The present review provides an overview of developments in the field, showing the challenges and possibilities of using nanotechnology in seed nano-priming to contribute to sustainable farming practices.
NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE: A Potential Tool for Abiotic Stress Tolerance
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Ashwani Kumar; Ayamn El Sabagh
Nanotechnology is emerging as an exciting field of research in relation to agriculture today, mainly due to its potential for tackling the harmful effects of abiotic stresses and climate change. This new book throws light on the use of nanoparticles as nanofertifilizers and details their prospective applications in agricultural science, including their use in minimizing the consequences of climate change, enhancing nutrient utilization efficiency, and achieving abiotic stress management. With chapters contributed by expert researchers from around the world, this book summarizes the importance of nanotechnology in abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants, presenting the latest research on the application of nanotechnology in agriculture crop production, its various applications in crop growth enhancement under different abiotic stress conditions, and the uses of various nanoparticles in agricultural fields for better yield and productivity. The book begins with a basic introduction to the concept of nanotechnology and its role in modern agriculture and proceeds to cover some of the latest trends and highlighting the prospects of nanotechnology in promoting sustainable agriculture through nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanoencapsulation, nanosensors, nanobarcodes, and intelligent distribution systems. It also details important topics such as nano-priming as seed priming technology for sustainable agriculture, the role of Si and nano-silicon (SiNP) in ameliorating biotic and abiotic stresses, and more. The use of nanotechnology in specific plants is also discussed, such as, for example, in cotton, forage crops, medicinal crops, etc. Covering nanotechnology for its diverse use in agriculture, focusing on both its possibilities and challenges, this book will be valuable for researchers and agricultural scientists as well as for faculty and students in the emerging field of nanotechnology in agricultural sciences.
Nanotechnologies: New Opportunities in Agriculture
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Carine Nono Temegne; Annie Stephanie Nana; Emmanuel Youmbi; M. S. Islam; Muhammad Aamir Iqbal; Muhammad Zahid Ihsan; Disna Ratnasekera; Celaluddin Barutcular; Ömer Konuşkan; Ayman El Sabagh
Exponentially increasing human population and environmental concerns have necessitated exploiting the potential uses of nanotechnologies in agriculture, which can boost agricultural production in a biologically viable, commercially economical, and environmentally sustainable manner. Many countries have used nano-products in the agriculture sector with unprecedented advantages under the current climate change scenario. However, limited knowledge of nano-products on human health and the biosafety of foods needs immediate attention. This chapter synthesizes the present trends and highlights the prospects of nanotechnology in promoting sustainable agriculture through nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanoencapsulation, nanosensors, nanobarcodes, and intelligent distribution systems. The opportunities to use nanoparticles to reduce the damaging effects of agricultural practices on the environment and health, protect crops against pests, improve waste management, optimize food quality and safety, and supply fertilizers in a farming manufacturing system for a viable environment have been objectively elaborated.
Application of Nanoparticles for Improving Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Cotton
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Muhammad Ikram; Muhammad Faizan Khurram Maqsood; Abdul Rauf; Maryam Tahira; Maria Batool; Imran Khan; Asif Minhas; Jamila Dirbas; Muhammad Aamir Iqbal; Mohammad Sohidul Islam; Subhan Danish; Cetin Karademir; Emine Karademir; Rukiye Kiliç; Ayman El Sabagh
In developing countries, major parts of the population are associated with agriculture for their livelihood and require innovative tools to address the problems of modern crop production. Because of its economic significance, cotton is one of the most important cash crops, commonly called “white gold.” However, its production is seriously threatened due to major abiotic adversaries such as temperature, drought, light, salt, nutrients, flooding, heavy metal pollution, and complex stresses such as harsh environments, saline-alkali soils, and coastal wetland environments. The negative impacts of abiotic stresses on plant growth and development result in lower lint output and financial losses. Nanotechnology is one of the most recent technologies developed to enable crop plants to survive and thrive under environmental stresses. The nanotechnology-based approaches can boost cotton production by minimizing the deleterious effects of abiotic stresses. Nanoparticles (NPs) can improve plant stress tolerance, crop quality and yield, and mitigate nutrient deficiencies. These benefits offered by NPs can be achieved through managing plant diseases, increasing chlorophyll content, and enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. Recent interest has developed in applying nano-pesticides, nano-herbicides, and nano-fertilizers as promising plant productivity enhancement technologies. Herein, recent advances have been synthesized on the negative consequences of NPs on the environment, human health, and the food chain, as well as their favorable effects on sustainable agriculture. Moreover, NPs’ uses for enhancing cotton productivity by averting the negative impacts of abiotic stresses have been objectively evaluated.
Nanotechnology: A Sustainable Approach for Combating Climate Change
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Sumit Sow; Shivani Ranjan; Sanjay Kumar; Mainak Ghosh; Navnit Kumar; Smruti Ranjan Padhan; Arzu Çiğ; Fatih Çiğ; Ayman El Sabagh
In the current era of climate change, the global population is rapidly increasing, presenting a significant challenge for the agricultural industry in providing nourishing food to meet the growing demand. However, numerous biological and environmental factors impose limitations on agricultural productivity. Thus, modern agricultural practices have enabled higher crop yields to sustain the expanding human population. Unfortunately, the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides and insecticides has resulted in severe environmental degradation and adverse health effects on humans. Fortunately, emerging technologies such as nanotechnology offer promising solutions to address these aforementioned challenges in the agricultural sector. Nanotechnology can serve as a protective measure and be utilized as nanocarriers for fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. Its recent integra-tion into agricultural platforms has primarily focused on delivering plant hormones, managing water resources, facilitating seed germination, transfer-ring targeted genes, developing nanosensors, creating nanofertilizers, and implementing nano-barcoding techniques. Despite the numerous benefits of nanoparticle utilization, its application in agriculture remains limited. Nonetheless, nanotechnology has immense potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry and overcome its limitations.
Enhancing Photosynthetic Efficiency of Crops Through Metabolic Engineering and Nanoformulation
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Chukwuma C. Ogbaga; Habib-Ur-Rehman Athar; Disna Ratnasekera; Hussan Bano; Aneela Kanwal Shahzadi; Misbah Amir; Islam F. Hassan; Godswill Ntsomboh-Ntsefong; Nugun P. Jellason; Jude A. Okolie; Ayman El Sabagh
Improvements in crop yields have been a challenge for breeders and biotech-nologists, as multiple attributes must be considered simultaneously for successful breeding. These attributes include morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular features. In addition, they are closely associ-ated with the photosynthetic efficiency of crops. In recent years, there has been tremendous advancement in studies on morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes capable of improving photosynthetic efficiency through manipulation. However, there is limited information on the molecular processes that can similarly affect crops. Furthermore, the use of nanotech-nology for the improvement of crops has been scarcely studied. This chapter presents metabolic engineering as a molecular approach that enhances cell membrane thermostability and photosynthetic efficiency. We also consider nanoformulation as a growing nanotechnology approach. Nanoformulation involves using nanoparticles to deliver abiotic stress tolerance traits capable of improving photosynthetic efficiency. Finally, the analytical platforms used in the metabolic characterization of higher crops, which can be used to assess the metabolic profiles of nanoformulated crops, are discussed. This chapter provides molecular and nanotechnology crop-specific information to enable breeders and biotechnologists to breed successfully.
Nano-Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture Under Limited Abiotic Conditions
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Anamika Dubey; Diksha Saiyam; Ashwani Kumar; Mohammed Latif Khan; Ayman El Sabagh
Nutrient fertilization is essential for sustaining soil fertility and improving crop productivity. Horticultural crops rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, and precise nutrient management is a significant concern worldwide. Traditional fertilizers cost significantly, not just for farmers, but they may also damage individuals and the environment. This has prompted a hunt for ecologically benign fertilizers, particularly ones that employ nutrients efficiently, with nanotechnology as a possible option. Nanofertilizers can help with nutrition management because of their potential to significantly increase nutritional utilization efficiency. Nutrients are attached to nano-dimensional adsorbents, in which nutrients are released more slowly than traditional fertilizers, whether applied alone or in combination. This method improves fertilizer utilization and reduces nutrient loss into groundwater. Combined with microorganisms (so-called nanobiofertilizers), they may provide even greater benefits. Although the advantages of nanofertilizers undoubtedly open up new opportunities for sustainable agriculture, their limitations should be thoroughly researched before they are put on the market. The widespread discharge of nanoparticles entering the environment and food chain, in particular, might endanger human health. To summa-rize, while nanomaterials in agriculture offer promising possibilities for enhancing plants’ nutritional status and stress resistance while increasing yields in the face of climate change, not all applications of nanomaterials will be as reliable as others. Before using nanofertilizers, the hazards should be thoroughly investigated, and more biotechnological breakthroughs are necessary for the proper use of nanoparticles in agriculture that are both safe and effective. The interaction between nanoparticles and abiotic stressors, as well as the properties and functions of nanofertilizers, are discussed in this chapter, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Nano-Silicon-Mediated Abiotic Stress Resistance in Plants: Mechanisms of Stress Mitigation
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Dinoo Gunasekera; Disna Ratnasekera; Basharat Ali; Mohammad Sohidul Islam; Uzma Younis; Sharif Ahmed; Semih Açikbaş; Nizamettin Turan; Seyithan Seydoşoğlu; Ayman El Sabagh
Silicon (Si) is considered as the second most prevalent element in the Earth’s crust, having functional involvements in ionic homeostasis, water status, photosynthetic pathways, and other physiological processes. Silicon-mediated beneficial effects on plants have been elucidated against biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon fertilization has been shown to be a significant remedial measure to enhance the growth and yield of many crop plants under stressful environments. Silicon-mediated stress alleviation comprises vital regulatory mechanisms, including prevention from oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmotic balance, nutrient management, and tolerance to pests and diseases in many plant species. The mechanisms related to mitigating stresses by Si supplementation are associated with the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Such stress-mitigating processes significantly vary with crop species, soil characteristics, and plant and environmental interactions. In addition, the molecular mechanisms of Si involvement and the expression of related genes associated with Si-mediated stress mitigation need to be explored for better understanding. Thus, our attempt in this chapter is to explain the role of Si and nano-silicon (SiNP) in ameliorating biotic and abiotic stresses and their underlying mechanisms.
The Effect of Nanoparticles on the Production and Quality of Medicinal Plants
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Gülen Özyazici
Nanotechnology is applied in various fields, such as medicine, electronics, and agricultural sciences, and studies with nanoparticles (NPs) have intensified in agriculture, especially in recent years. Numerous perspectives have been considered while examining the benefits and drawbacks of applying nanoscience to several branches of botany, including seed germination, seedling development, plant production and quality, and plant physiology. This review study aimed to reveal the potential of NPs for use in medicinal plants. To this end, in this review article, the effects of nanofertilization with nanomaterials and nano-priming applications on the physiological, morphological, yield, and quality parameters of medicinal plants were examined and discussed from various aspects.
Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Current Trends and Future Prospects Under Changing Climate
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Mawra Ishaq; Muhammad Mubeen; Sajjad Hussain; Hafiz Umar Farid; Ayman El Sabagh; Wajid Nasim; Mazhar Ali; Nasir Masood; Sajjad Ahmad; Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed; Muhammad Amjad; Behzad Murtaza; Hafiz Mohkum Hammad; Maham Tariq; Muhammad Anwar-Ul-Haq; Muhammad Habib Ur Rahman
Nanotechnology is a developing technology for improving crop yield and can cope with current agricultural problems, including climate change. Climate change has an antagonistic effect on crop yield by exacerbating the rate of pest spread and decreasing the efficiency of old-fashioned pest control approaches. The nanomaterials have numerous properties: they have a high surface area, show slow-release action, and provide targeted action at active sites, and so forth. Plenty of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have shown real potential in farming and crop production. Nanofertilizers (NFs) are one of the most significant ways to increase resource efficacy in plants and lower pollution. Using nanopesticides, nanoherbicides, and nanosensors helps improve plant productivity. Plants become more robust and competitive than weeds and several other abiotic stresses. Silver nanoparticles play a vital role in controlling several seed and soil-borne phytopathogens. Therefore, nanotechnology has shown value in agriculture. Nanotechnology is a favor-able novel approach for plant disease management that has many advantages over conventional products, such as lower eco-toxicity, better efficacy, and less input requirement. Some promising results have been achieved when various nanomaterials were used on a number of crop plants.
Nanotechnology: A Way Forward for Insect Pest Management
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Sheikh Aafreen Rehman; Sajad A. Ganie; Tamjeeda Nisar; Javeed A. Lone; Muhammad Jafir; Jamila Dirbas; Ayman El Sabagh
Synthetic pesticides have become an unavoidable component of Indian agri-culture. The increased use of these chemicals in the agricultural industry has resulted in several health and environmental risks. Recently, nanotechnology has revolutionized the world because of its numerous benefits. Actually, nanotech-nology is an interdisciplinary science that has the potential to transform current technology. Nanotechnology is any engineered material, structure, or system that operates on a scale of a hundred nanometers or less. Nanoparticles have proper-ties and behave differently from coarser bulk materials with similar chemical compositions due to their nanoscale. Because the chemicals are smaller, they spread more evenly on the pest and host surfaces and thus provide better action than conventional pesticides. Several formulations have been created, including nanosuspensions, nanoemulsions, nanoencapsulation, and nanoparticles. Nano-formulated pesticides greatly reduce the dosage of chemical insecticides. Nanoparticles have been shown to cross biological membranes and kill cells. As a result, the role of nanotechnology in developing nanopesticides is an effective way to fill the gap in the conventional insecticide group.
The Effect of Nanoparticles on the Production and Quality of Forage Crops
(Apple Academic Press, 2025-02-21) Mehmet Arıf Özyazici
Nanotechnology is defined as research and development on a macromo-lecular scale, and nanoparticles are considered the main components of nanotechnology. These nanoscale materials are used in a wide variety of fields. Agriculture also has significant potential among these areas of use. This review study aimed to reveal the potential of nanoparticles for use in forage crops. To this end, the present review article examined and discussed the effects of nano-priming applications and nano-fertilization with nanoma-terials on the physiological, morphological, yield, and quality parameters of forage crops.
Integration of compost with mineral NPK fertilizers for improving wheat yield and soil health
(Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2024-12-12) Abdul Basir; Sikandar Iqbal; Muhammad Adnan; Mushtaq Ahmad Khan; Rattan Lal; Shah Fahad; Beena Saeed; Manzoor Ahmad; Ibrahim Al-Ashkar; Çağdaş Can Toprak; Zeki Erden; Ayman El Sabagh
Treating the soil with balanced and appropriate fertilizers is vital for obtaining optimum yield and maintaining soil health in a sustainable manner. One of the bottlenecks to sustainable agricultural production is soil depletion due to unbalanced fertilization. To overcome these problems, a pot experiment was carried out, to explore the potential of composts and mineral fertilizers on the soil health, yield and NPK uptake in wheat in calcareous soil. NPK were supplemented through different sources including T1: Control, T2: 100% NPK as compost I (CI), T3: 100% NPK as compost II (CII), T4: 50%NPK each as CI and mineral fertilizers, T5: 50%NPK each as CII and mineral fertilizers, T6: 100% NPK as mineral fertilizers (120: 90: 60 kg ha-1). Significantly taller plants of (92.6 cm), higher spike length (11.60 cm), thousand grain weight (47.54 g), biological yields (9706.2 kg ha-1) and grain yield (4070 kg ha-2) were recorded at T5. Similarly, maximum leaves N content (1.54%) and P content (0.19%), soil mineral N (192.8 kg ha-1), nitrogen use efficiency (36.1 higher over control) and minimum soil pH (7.76) were also recorded were also observed at in pots treated with (50% NPK each as CII and mineral fertilizers) while the organic matter was highest in pots treated with full dose of CI. Therefore, application of NPK 50% each as mineral fertilizers and compost (CII) is recommended for obtaining optimum crop yield and improved soil and crop quality under calcareous soils.
Enhancing Wheat Productivity and Reducing Lead Uptake Through Biochar, Bentonite, and Rock Phosphate Integration
(MDPI AG, 2025-04-14) Mohamed S. Elshikh; Mona S. Alwahibi; Zaffar Malik; Ahmad Ali; Hassan Mehmood; Hafiz Tanvir Ahmad; Sipan Soysal; P. V. Vara Prasad; Ivica Djalovic; Bogdan Dugalic
Heavy metal (HMs) toxicity has severely impacted wheat production and is considered an emerging threat to human health due to bioaccumulation. The application of organic and inorganic amendments has proven effective in mitigating HM’s phytotoxicity by limiting their mobility in soil and plants. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of biochar (BC), bentonite (BN), and rock phosphate (RP), both individually and in combination, in alleviating lead (Pb) toxicity and enhancing wheat growth, and physiological attributes. The present investigation revealed that BC, BN, RP, and their combined mineral biochar amendments (MBAs) at 1.5% level significantly enhanced wheat growth along with reducing DTPA-extractable Pb in soil by 30.0–49.8% and Pb uptake in roots by 15.7–37.5% and in shoots by 34.5–48.5%. Antioxidant enzymatic activities were improved, and stress indicators were reduced in roots and shoots of wheat under Pb stress, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by 50.7 and 81.0%, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 16.0 and 74.9%, and proline content by 34.5 and 64.0%, respectively. The effectiveness of the treatments is described in descending order viz. MBA-1 > MBA-3 > MBA-2 > BC > RP > BN under Pb stress. In conclusion, the integration of biochar, bentonite, and rock phosphate is a promising strategy for sustainable and cleaner cereal crop production under heavy metal stress conditions.
Exogenous selenium application enhances the photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant defense of mash bean (Vigna mungo) to confer tolerance to salt stress
(University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 2025-03-28) Zain UL ABIDIN; Safura BIBI; Athar MAHMOOD; Sipan SOYSAL; Zeki ERDEN; Çağdaş Can TOPRAK; Kifah GHARZEDDIN; Ibrahim AL-ASHKAR; Ayman EL SABAGH; Nehal ELNAGGAR
Mash bean is an important crop enriched with proteins and highly praised in Pakistan due to its nutritional values. However, due to abiotic stresses like salinity, its production is decreased. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium on mash bean to produce salt tolerance. Mash bean seeds were sown in plastic pots filled with sand. Three levels of NaCl (0 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM) and five levels of selenium (0 ppm, 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, 120 ppm) were applied with Hoagland solution. Salinity reduced plant height (28%), leaf area (33%), chlorophyll a (14%), chlorophyll b (9%), carotenoids (20%), potassium ions, calcium ions, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index and increased sodium ions (21%), H2O2 content as well as secondary metabolites. However, selenium application in low concentration enhanced plant height (31%), leaf area, chlorophyll a (17%), chlorophyll b (12%), carotenoids (40%), potassium, calcium, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index, proline, flavonoids, total phenol, while decreased sodium ions (25%) and hydrogen peroxide content under salt stress. Findings showed important function of selenium in improving physical characteristics, absorption of ions, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant defense in plants under salinity. Applying selenium at 40 ppm concentrations showed greatest efficacy in alleviating negative impacts of salt stress (100 mM) on plant growth and biochemical attributes. Maximum positive results of selenium application (40 ppm) were obtained at 0 mM of salinity. The journal offers free, immediate, and unrestricted access to peer-reviewed research and scholarly work. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. License - Articles published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca are Open-Access, distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License.
Sustainable cereal production through integrated crop management: a global review of current practices and future prospects
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025-03-13) Vaddula Yamini; Kulvir Singh; Mohammed Antar; Ayman El Sabagh
Among cereals, three crops namely maize, wheat, and rice account for 90% of the total cereal production, with global production levels of 791.2, 522.6, and 1229.63 million tons for wheat, rice and maize, respectively. The global challenges of food insecurity, climate variability, and unsustainable land use necessitate a redefined approach to cereal production, focusing on climate resilience, low vulnerability, and high productivity while establishing food and environmental safety. Integrated crop management (ICM) offers a holistic farming approach that integrates various agricultural practices to ensure long-term benefits and mitigate risks. This comprehensive review examined a total of 108 documented studies from existing literature pertaining to the last 23 years, besides case studies on ICM in rice, wheat, and maize production, analyzing its benefits, challenges, and future directions. In Asian countries, where rice is a staple food, ICM practices have effectively addressed challenges such as yield stagnation, declining profits, and crop failures. Nutrient and pest management, along with conservation agriculture (CA), have played a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. China’s implementation of site-specific management duly integrated with other practices, has successfully reduced excessive nitrogen use besides improved environmental and health outcomes. Sustainable corn production has been achieved in the USA and Africa through comprehensive implementation of CA and crop diversification. Globally, ICM has demonstrated yield increases of 10–19% for rice, 16–30% for wheat, and 13.5–30% for maize crops. Despite having ample potential, the widespread adoption of ICM faces technical, climate-related, and economic constraints. Overcoming these challenges requires targeted training, extension services, and supportive policies. Furthermore, future research should focus on addressing key knowledge gaps to facilitate the widespread implementation of ICM. While promoting climatic resilience and sustainability in cereal production systems, ICM can contribute to food security and environmental preservation globally.

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