Higher demands of food led to higher nitrogen application to promote cropping intensification and produce more which may have negative effects on the environment and lead to pollution. While sustainable wheat production is under threat due to low soil fertility and organic matter due to nutrient degradation at high temperatures in the region. The current research explores the effects of different types of coated urea fertilizers and their rates on wheat crop under arid climatic conditions of Pakistan. Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency by using eco-friendly coated urea products could benefit growers and reduce environmental negative effects. A trial treatment included N rates (130, 117, 104, and 94 kg ha-1) and coated urea sources (neem coated, sulfur coated, bioactive sulfur coated) applied with equal quantity following split application method at sowing, 20 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). The research was arranged in a split-plot design with randomized complete block design had three replicates. Data revealed that bioactive sulfur coated urea with the application of 130 kg N ha-1 increased chlorophyll contents 55.0 (unit value), net leaf photosynthetic rate (12.51 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), and leaf area index (5.67) significantly. Furthermore, research elucidates that bioactive sulfur urea with the same N increased partial factor productivity (43.85 Kg grain Kg-1 N supplied), nitrogen harvest index (NHI) 64.70%, and partial nutrient balance (1.41 Kg grain N content Kg-1 N supplied). The neem-coated and sulfur-coated fertilizers also showed better results than monotypic urea. The wheat growth and phenology significantly improved by using coated fertilizers. The crop reached maturity earlier with the application of bioactive sulfur-coated urea than others. Maximum total dry matter 14402 (kg ha-1) recorded with 130 kg N ha-1application. Higher 1000-grain weight (33.66 g), more number of grains per spike (53.67), grain yield (4457 kg ha-1), and harvest index (34.29%) were obtained with optimum N application 130 kg ha-1 (recommended). There is a significant correlation observed for growth, yield, and physiological parameters with N in the soil while nitrogen-related indices are also positively correlated. The major problem of groundwater contamination with nitrate leaching is also reduced by using coated fertilizers. Minimum nitrate concentration (7.37 and 8.77 kg ha-1) was observed with the application of bioactive sulfur-coated and sulfur-coated urea with lower N (94 kg ha-1), respectively. The bioactive sulfur-coated urea with the application of 130 kg N ha-1 showed maximum phosphorus 5.45 mg kg-1 and potassium 100.67 mg kg-1 in the soil. Maximum nitrogen uptake (88.20 kg ha-1) is showed by bioactive sulfur coated urea with 130 kg N ha-1 application. The total available NPK concentrations in soil showed a significant correlation with physiological attributes; grain yield; harvest index; and nitrogen use efficiency components, i.e., partial factor productivity, partial nutrient balance, and nitrogen harvest index. This research reveals that coating urea with secondary nutrients, neem oil, and microbes are highly effective techniques for enhancing fertilizer use efficiency and wheat production in calcareous soils and reduced N losses under arid environments.

Soil salinity threatens agricultural production worldwide by constraining plant growth and final crop yield. The early stages are most sensitive to salinity, in response to which salicylic acid (SA) has demonstrated beneficial effects in various plant species. Based on this, a maize (Zea mays L.) pot experiment was set up combining three levels of soil salinity (0, 6 and 12 dS m–1), obtained through NaCl addition, with three levels of SA (0, 300 and 600 mM), applied by leaf spraying 20 days after seedling emergence. Fifteen days later, the following traits were assessed: morphology (plant height, leaf number), growth (root and shoot dry weight), leaf water status [relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL)], pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, anthocyanin), antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, vitamin C), oxidative stress markers (H2O2, malondialdehyde), osmo-regulating compounds (free amino acids, soluble proteins and sugars, proline), hormones [indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene], element (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl) concentration and content in roots, stem and leaves. Salinity severely affected maize growth (–26% total dry weight), impaired leaf water status (–31% RWC), reduced photosynthetic pigments, enhanced all antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers, two osmo-regulating compounds (soluble sugars and proline) out of four, and all hormones except GA. SA was shown effective in containing most of the stress effects, while supporting plant defences by upgrading antioxidant activities (reduced oxidative stress markers), increasing cell membrane stability (–24% EL) and leaf water status (+20% RWC), and reducing plant stress signalling (–10% ABA and -20% ethylene). Above all, SA contrasted the massive entry of noxious ions (Na+ and Cl–), in favour of K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ accumulation. Lastly, salicylic acid was shown beneficial for maize growth and physiology also under non-saline condition, suggesting a potential use in normal field conditions. Highlights - Foliar applied salicylic acid alleviated salinity effects on maize growth at early plant stage. - Salicylic acid improved leaf water status, chlorophyll content, and strengthened anti-oxidant enzymes under salinity. - Salicylic acid reduced oxidative stress markers while enhancing osmo-regulating and hormonal responses to salinity. - Salicylic acid hampered Na and Cl entry and translocation to above ground organs, preserving leaf cell membrane integrity. - Salicylic acid was shown beneficial for maize growth and physiology also under non-saline conditions.

Background During a preliminary study, effects of 0, 20, 40, and 60 mM NaCl salinity were assessed on germination rate in relation to electrolyte leakage (EL) in sweet pepper. Results explored significant rises in ethylene evolution from seeds having more EL. It was, therefore, hypothesized that excessive ethylene biosynthesis in plants due to salinity stress might be a root cause of low crop productivity. As salicylic acid is one of the potent ethylene inhibitors, thus SA was used to combat effects of ethylene produced under salinity stress of 60 mM NaCl on different physiological and morphological characteristics of sweet pepper. Methodology The effect of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mM SA was evaluated on seed germination, growth and yield of sweet pepper cv. Yolo wonder at salinity stress on 60 mM NaCl. Seeds were primed with SA concentrations and incubated till 312 h in an incubator to study germination. Same SA concentrations were sprayed on foliage of plants grown in saline soil (60 mM NaCl). Results Seeds primed by 0.2 to 0.3 mM SA improved germination rate by 33% due to suppression of ethylene from 3.19 (control) to 2.23–2.70 mg plate−1. Electrolyte leakage reduced to 20.8–21.3% in seeds treated by 0.2–0.3 mM SA compared to 39.9% in untreated seeds. Results also explored that seed priming by 0.3 mM improved TSS, SOD and chlorophyll contents from 13.7 to 15.0 mg g−1 FW, 4.64 to 5.38 activity h−1 100 mg−1 and 89 to 102 ug g−1 compared to untreated seeds, respectively. Results also explore that SA up to 0.2 mM SA applied on plant foliage improved LAI (5–13%), photosynthesis (4–27%), WUE (11–57%), dry weight (5–20%), SOD activity (4–20%) and finally fruit yield (4–20%) compared to untreated plants by ameliorating effect of 60 mM NaCl. Foliar application of SA also caused significant increase in nutrient use efficiency due to significant variations in POD and SOD activities. Conclusion Salicylic acid suppressed ethylene evolution from germinating seeds up to 30% under stress of 60 mM NaCl due to elevated levels of TSS and SOD activity. Foliar application of SA upgraded SOD by lowering POD activity to improve NUE particularly K use efficiency at salinity stress of 60 mM NaCl. Application of 0.2 and 0.3 mM SA emerged as the most effective concentrations of SA for mitigating 60 mM NaCl stress on different physiological and morphological characteristics of sweet pepper.

Humus is the stable form of added crop and animal residues. The organic matter after a long-term decomposition process converts into humic substances. The naturally occurring humus is present in less amount in soils of the arid and semi-arid regions. The addition of commercially available humic acid can, therefore, contribute to improving soil health and crop yields. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of potassium humate, applied through soil seed dressing, on cotton productivity and fiber quality attributes. Seed dressing with potassium humate was done at the rate of 0, 100, 150 and 200 mL kg−1 seed while in soil potassium humate was applied at the rate of 0, 10, 20 and 30 L ha−1. Results showed that the combined application of potassium humate by seed dressing and through soil application improved the soil properties, productivity and fiber quality traits of cotton. All levels of soil applied potassium humate (10, 20 and 30 L ha−1) performed better over seed dressing in terms of cotton productivity and fiber quality attributes. Among the soil application rates, 20 L ha−1 potassium humate proved better as compared to other rates (0, 10 and 30 L ha−1). Higher soil application of potassium humate (30 L ha−1) showed depressing effects on all the traits studied like the reduction of 12.4% and 6.6% in Ginning out turn and fiber length, respectively, at a seeding dressing of 200 mL kg−1. In conclusion, potassium humate seed dressing and soil application at the rate of 200 mL kg−1 and 20 L ha−1, respectively, is a better approach to improve cotton productivity. Soil potassium humate should not exceed a rate of 20 L ha−1 when the seed dressing of potassium is also practiced.

The present study investigated the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of chromium (Cr 6þ ) and aluminum (Al 3þ ) in maize and their induced variations in morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes as well as growth behavior and yield formation. Plants were grown in pots supplied with heavy metals, alone and in combination (chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al) and chromium þ aluminum (Cr þ Al)) while pots without adding Cr or Al were regarded as control. Metal stress considerably reduced growth and yield related attributes as well as photosynthetic pigments of maize. However, production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), thiobarbituric acid and activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and ascorbic acid were substantially increased under Cr and Al stress. A significant increase in soluble sugars and total phenolic contents were recorded in plants exposed to Cr and Al stress. Furthermore, all physiological attributes were increased with plant age except chlorophyll. Interestingly, Cr alone was proved more toxic to maize than Al alone. Cr and Al accumulation varied significantly (p 0.05) among different plant organs as roots > stem > leaves > corn ear > grains, whereas degrees of translocations were higher from stem to other plant parts than roots to stem. Accumulation of Cr and Al in either above-or below-ground plant parts are negatively correlated with grains and biological yield. The overall trend of metal stress on plant growth and yield were perceived as: Cr þ Al > Cr > Al > control. Furthermore, synergistic effects of Cr þ Al were more prominent than the individual effects of Cr and Al alone.

The productivity of agricultural produce is fairly dependent on the availability of nutrients and efficient use. Magnesium (Mg2+) is an essential macronutrient of living cells and is the second most prevalent free divalent cation in plants. Mg2+ plays a role in several physiological processes that support plant growth and development. However, it has been largely forgotten in fertilization management strategies to increase crop production, which leads to severe reductions in plant growth and yield. In this review, we discuss how the Mg2+ shortage induces several responses in plants at different levels: morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular. Additionally, the Mg2+ uptake and transport mechanisms in different cellular organelles and the role of Mg2+ transporters in regulating Mg2+ homeostasis are also discussed. Overall, in this review, we critically summarize the available information about the responses of Mg deficiency on plant growth and development, which would facilitate plant scientists to create Mg2+-deficiency-resilient crops through agronomic and genetic biofortification.

Eggshell powder can be used as an attractive source of calcium) Ca (in human diet .Therefore, this work was done to compare different kinds of eggshells) white chicken) WC (, brown chicken) BC (, duck and quail .(The proximate chemical composition and mineral content of different eggshells were determined .In addition ,the influence of eggshell powders supplementation) 5 , 10 and 15% (on minerals content, physical and sensory properties of bread strips was studied .The obtained results indicated that ,the content of ash was 96.67 , 96.18 , 95.99 and 93.42 % for WC ,BC ,duck and quail eggshells, respectively .The duck eggshell contained the highest calcium content followed by quail ,WC and BC eggshells .Meanwhile , quail eggshells exhibited the highest magnesium) Mg (content followed by BC ,WC and duck eggshells .Addition of eggshell powders led to a noticeable increase of Ca ,Mg contents and water absorption ratio in the supplemented bread strips .Moreover , minor changes in sensory properties of bread strips were recorded by judges .The obtained data revealed that ,we can recommend the possibility of using eggshell powders as dietary calcium supplement to fortify bread at home up to 10 % level .Also ,the lack of information on the using of eggshell suggests that there is a promising area to be discovered.

Biosolids can be effectively recycled and applied as soil amendments for agricultural crops because they contain several important micro and macronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese. In the current study, we evaluated the effectiveness of seven biosoilds on different growth parameters of wheat crop. The biosolids used were lime stabilized, composted, liquid mesophilic anaerobically digested (liquid MAD), thermally dried mesophilic anaerobically digested (thermally dried MAD), thermally hydrolyzed mesophilic anaerobically digested (thermally hydrolysed MAD), dewatered mesophilic anaerobically digested (dewatered MAD) and thermally dried raw biosolids. We also analysed biosolids for their nutrient contents before application. The results revealed that different types of biosolids differed in nitrogen and phosphorous contents with highest contents observed in dewatered (5.70% nitrogen, 2.32% phosphorous) and liquid biosolids (2.35% phosphorous). The plant height, plant diameter and dry weight yield of wheat was increased with the increase in concentrations of biosolids. Liquid MAD resulted in maximum plant height of 120.35 ± 3.23, 133.2 ± 3.67 and 147.25 ± 3.11 at 3.33, 6.66 and 9.99 tons/ha concentration. The highest plant diameter was recorded (1.05–1.45 cm) where mineral nitrogen was applied. The study will be helpful in replacing the synthetic fertilizer with biosolids to fulfil the nutritional requirements of agricultural crops.