A two-year (2020–2021) field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of particular nanoparticles and biofertilizers on the growth, yield, and biochemical attributes of peanuts (Cv. Giza 6). Before planting, the seeds were inoculated with two biofertilizers, mycorrhiza and phosphorine, and were considered the main plot. The subplot contained foliar sprays of nanoparticles, i.e., 200 ppm boron (B), 200 ppm calcium (Ca), their combination (Ca+B), and the control (no spray). The results revealed that mycorrhiza significantly increased 100-seed weight (70.45 g), seed yield (1.9 ton/ha), biological yield (7.5 ton/ha), crop growth rate (CGR) (2.9 g day−1 m−2), branching number (12.5), and protein content (22.96) compared with the control or phosphorine. Among the nanoparticles, Ca+B maximally improved plant height, CGR, 100-seed weight, shelling percentage, seed yield, oil content, and seed protein, while plants treated with B exhibited maximum seed nitrogen, pods per plant, and biological yield compared to other treatments. Overall, plants treated with Ca and B nanoparticles and mycorrhiza exhibited remarkable improvement in their growth, yield, and biochemical attributes, suggesting that nanotechnology and biofertilization are steps toward environmentally friendly, progressive farming. This study laid the basis for further elucidation of the molecular mechanism of plants in response to these nanoparticles and biofertilizers.

A field trial was conducted to investigate the productivity of three bread wheat cultivars, namely Giza-168, Shandawel-1, and Misr-2, under different fertilization treatments, i.e., azotobacter inoculation, 25% nitrogen (N) + azotobacter, 50%N + azotobacter, 75%N + azotobacter, and 100%N of the recommended level (180 kg/ha). The treatments were laid in a split-plot design, and each was replicated three times. The findings showed that wheat cultivars examined in the two seasons exhibited significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) in plant height (PH, cm), number of tillers m−2 (NTM), number of spikelets per spike (NSS), 1000-grain weight (TGW, g), spike length (SL, cm), biological yield (BY, ton ha−1), grain yield (GY, ton ha−1), straw yield (SY, ton ha−1), harvest index (HI, %), protein content (PC, %), days to 50% heading (DTH), and chlorophyll content (CC, SPAD). As a result, Giza-168 had a higher GY (14%), HI (27%), and TGW (10%) than any of the other two cultivars in both growing seasons. Furthermore, Misr-2 exhibited the highest PH (16%), NTM (26%), NSS (28%), SL (10%), BY (30%), SY (46%), and CC (3%). The application of the two treatments of 100%N and N75% + azotobacter exhibited high and statistically similar performance, resulting in an increase in all studied traits by greater than 30–50% compared to the other three treatments. According to the findings of the current investigation, the application of N fertilizer combined with azotobacter increased wheat yield more than either solely azotobacter or N application. We concluded that the application of nitrogen combined with azotobacter reduced the quantity of applied nitrogen by 25%.

By integrating various irrigation and agriculture management techniques, it is possible to considerably improve water productivity. In order to examine the impact of irrigation scheduling (1.0 and 1.2 pan evaporation coefficient), planting method (ridge and raised bed), and potassium silicate foliar application (0 ppm and 100 ppm) on maize (Zea mays L) growth, yield, and water-related factors, a two-season field experiment was conducted in a hot-dry climate region of southern Egypt during 2017 and 2018. The results showed that the seasonal irrigation requirement and consumptive use were higher at 1.2 than the 1.0 pan evaporation coefficient, irrespective of the planting methods. Raised bed planting method saved about 19% of applied water (two seasons average) compared to the ridge planting method. Plants treated with potassium silicates attained higher yields compared to the control, irrespective of the irrigation level and planting method. Moreover, irrigation at 1.2 pan evaporation resulted in the lowest daily ETc values, i.e., 3.15, 6.0, 6.7, and 2.8 mm for plant growth stages, i.e., ini, dev, mid and late. This resulted in the lowest Kc values (0.47, 0.91, 1.16, and 0.61) at different plant growth stages (ini, dev, mid and late). Based on the study findings, it is recommended to use a deficit irrigation of 0.15% based on accumulated pan evaporation values of 1.2, coupled with raised bed planting method and the application of 100 ppm potassium silicates, for optimal maize water productivity and net return.

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Soybean (Glycine max L.) is widely cultivated for its edible bean, which has many uses. Soybean is the most important protein source for animal feeding and human food. Among the legumes, soybean is valued for its high protein content (38-45 %), also soybean seed contains 18-19 % oil (Livestock's long shadow, 2016).Soybean is a globally important crop that provides protein and oil for a wide array of products. Soybean seed is made up of crudely 40 % protein, 20 % oil, 35 % carbohydrate and 5 % ash (Soares et al., 2008).Total cultivated area of soybean in the world in 2018 was about 123.5 million ha which produced about 352.6 million tons, while in Egypt, the cultivated area was about 15000 ha produced approximately 45000 ton from dry seeds (FAO STAT, 2018). Soybean is very sensitive plant to drought and salinity conditions during vegetative and reproductive growth. Since soybean is classified as dehydration-sensitive species that require ARTICLE INFO

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is widely cultivated for its edible bean, which has many uses. Soybean is the cheap and most important protein source for animal feed and human food. Among the legumes, soybean is valued for its high protein content (38-45%) , also soybean seed contains 18-19% oil (Livestock's long shadow, 2016). Soybean is a globally important crop that provides protein and oil for a wide array of products. By weight, soybean seed is made up of roughly 40% protein, 20% oil, 35% carbohydrate, and 5% ash (Soares et al., 2008). The total cultivated area of soybean in the world in 2017 was about 123.5 million ha produced about 352.64 million tons, while in Egypt, the cultivated area was about 15000 ha produced approximately 45000 tons from dry seeds (FAO, 2018). Soybean is a very sensitive plant to drought and salinity conditions during vegetative and reproductive growth. Since soybean is classified as dehydration-sensitive

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To investigate the response of maize hybrids to plant population and nitrogen fertilization rates. Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University during 2018 and 2019 seasons. Factorial experiments (two factors) in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Whereas, the first factor was plant population (50000, 75000, 100000 plant/ha), while, the second factor was nitrogen fertilization rates (216, 288, 360, and 432 kg N/ha). The results revealed that ear length (cm), number of rows/ear, number of grains/row, number of grains/ear, 100-grains weight (g), grain yield (t/ha), straw yield, biological yield (t/ha), harvest index (%) and grain protein content (%) of maize hybrid were, significantly, affected by plant population and nitrogen fertilizer rates, where the highest grain yield was obtained by growing maize plant hybrid 3444 at a population of 75000 plant/ha under the application of 360 kg N/ha under the environmental conditions of Alexandria, Egypt.