Microgreens are rich functional crops with valuable nutritional elements that have health benefits when used as food supplements. Growth characterization, nutritional composition profile of 21 varieties representing five species of the Brassica genus as microgreens were assessed under light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) conditions. Microgreens were grown under four different LEDs ratios (%); red:blue 80:20 and 20:80 (R80:B20 and R20:B80), or red:green:blue 70:10:20 and 20:10:70 (R70:G10:B20 and R20:G10:B70). Results indicated that supplemental lighting with green LEDs (R70:G10:B20) enhanced vegetative growth and morphology, while blue LEDs (R20:B80) increased the mineral and vitamin contents. Interestingly, by linking the nutritional content with the growth yield to define the optimal LEDs setup, we found that the best lighting to promote the microgreen growth was the green LEDs combination (R70:G10:B20). Remarkably, under the green LEDs combination (R70:G10:B20) conditions, the microgreens of Kohlrabi purple, Cabbage red, Broccoli, Kale Tucsan, Komatsuna red, Tatsoi and Cabbage green, which can benefit human health in conditions with limited food, had the highest growth and nutritional content.

Water-deficit stress poses tremendous constraints to sustainable agriculture, particularly under abrupt climate change. Hence, it is crucial to find eco-friendly approaches to ameliorate drought tolerance, especially for sensitive crops such as maize. This study aimed at assessing the impact of seed halo-priming on seedling vigor, grain yield, and water use efficiency of maize under various irrigation regimes. Laboratory trials evaluated the influence of seed halo-priming using two concentrations of sodium chloride solution, 4000 and 8000 ppm NaCl, versus unprimed seeds on seed germination and seedling vigor parameters. Field trials investigated the impact of halo-priming treatments on maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) under four irrigation regimes comprising excessive (120% of estimated crop evapotranspiration, ETc), normal (100% ETc), and deficit (80 and 60% ETc) irrigation regimes. Over-irrigation by 20% did not produce significantly more grain yield but considerably reduced WUE. Deficit irrigation (80 and 60%ETc) gradually reduced grain yield and its attributes. Halo-priming treatments, particularly 4000 ppm NaCl, improved uniformity and germination speed, increased germination percentage and germination index, and produced more vigorous seedlings with heavier dry weight compared with unprimed seeds. Under field conditions, the plants originated from halo-primed seeds, especially with 4000 ppm NaCl, had higher grain yield and WUE compared with unprimed seeds under deficit irrigation regimes. The long-lasting stress memory induced by seed halo-priming, particularly with 4000 ppm NaCl, promoted maize seedling establishment, grain yield, and WUE and consequently mitigated the devastating impacts of drought stress.

Due to their beneficial, stimulating impact on plant growth, productivity, and alleviating environmental stresses, protein hydrolysates have recently received increasing attention as a possible substitute. This investigation aimed to explore the effects of foliar application of papain-produced whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) on the yield attributes and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of soft wheat. Wheat plants were cultivated under a Mediterranean arid environment and received four soil nitrogen (N) fertilization levels with ammonium nitrate (145, 185, 215, and 250 kg N ha−1) and compared to control treatment and urea foliar application. WPH increased grain yield, yield attributes, and N accumulation in wheat plants. Partial productivity factors of applied nitrogen, as NUE indicators under relatively steady-state cropping systems, were also enhanced by WPH compared to control treatment. WPH significantly improved flag leaf area, spike number m−2, and grain yield compared to urea foliar application. Increasing the soil N fertilization level from 145 up to 215 kg N ha−1 was accompanied by significant increases in all yield traits and N accumulation measurements, except for the partial factor productivity of applied N, which decreased. A strong positive association was detected among grain and straw yields, their attributes, and total N uptake. Results highlighted the efficacy of WPH in increasing wheat yield and NUE.

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36Microgreens are rich functional crops with valuable nutritional elements that have health benefits 37 when used as food supplants. Growth characterization, nutritional composition profile of 21 38 varieties representing 5 species of the Brassica genus as microgreens were assessed under light-39 emitting diodes (LEDs) conditions. Microgreens were grown under four different LEDs ratios (%) 40

Present study was conducted during two winter seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 in farm (Ghazala Village), Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, to evaluate the impact of seven fertilization treatments i.e. F1: humic acid (4 kg/fad), F2: F1 +50% recommended dose of nitrogen (37.5 kg N/fad), F3: commercial organic-fertilizer (3G-101), F4: F3+50% recommended dose of nitrogen (37.5 kg N/fad ), F5: yeast extract, F6: F5+ 50% recommended dose of nitrogen(37.5kg N/fad ) and F7: 75kgN/fad (recommended dose), on productivity of two wheat cultivars i.e. Shandawel-1 and Misr 2. Results alluded that Shendawel-1 cultivar surpassed Misr2 cv in each of chlorophyll content (SPAD unit), flag leaf area (cm 2 ), spike length (cm), number of spikelets and grains/spike, 1000 grain weight (g), spike weight, number of spikes/m 2 , biological, straw and grain yields as well as harvest index (HI). Treatment F2 outperformed others in chlorophyll content. Treatment F6 recorded the highest value in each of: flag leaf area, plant height, spike length, number of spikelets and grains/spike, 1000 grain weight, number of spikes/m 2 , biological, straw and grain yields/fad and protein content. Treatment F1 gave the lowest values for the previous traits, but give higher harvest index compared to treatment F5. Grain yield/fad positively and significantly correlated with plant height, spike length, No. of spikletes/spike, 1000 grain weight, spike weight and number of spikes/m 2 .

The study aims at evaluating humic acid application and nitrogen fertilization treatments viz., control, nitrogen foliar application (4%), 30 kg N fad -1 , 30 kg N fad -1 + N foliar application (4%) and 60 kg N fad -1 on productivity, grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of three barley varieties. In addition, the yield analysis of the three barley varieties viz., Giza129, Giza131 and Giza135 was investigated. Humic acid application enhanced barley productivity, quality and NUE. Giza131 surpassed the other two varieties in grain yield, some components and NUE in both seasons except protein content. Raising N level up to 60 kg Nfad -1 had a significant impact on all studied traits compared with control treatment, except NUE. Co-application of 30 kg N fad -1 +N foliar application improved barley yield, most of its attributes, grain quality and NUE, which reflect the efficacy of N foliar application in fulfilling barley nitrogen requirements with the soil N applications. Additionally, path analysis indicated that: the grain number spike -1 had the highest direct effect on the grain yield among the varieties Giza129 and Giza131, the highest indirect effects on grain yield were assigned for grain weight spike -1 and spike number m -2 , while spike numberm -2 had the greatest direct effect on the yield of Giza135, which demonstrates the importance of these traits in improving barley grain yield.

Fertilization is one of the main factors influencing yield and grain quality of barely because it participates in numerous metabolic routes. Grain viability play important role in malting industry, field emergence, green forage (sprouted barley) and quality parameters. In this manner, this investigation was designed to study effects of three major elements (N,P,K) and biofertilizers on productivity and grain quality of three barley cultivars (Giza123, Giza131 and Giza136). The fertilization regimes were F 1, control without fertilization; F 2, supplying mineral fertilizers in levels of 45 N,30 P and24 K kg/fad as recommended regime; F 3 , 50% of F 2 + biofertilizers (Azotobacter, phosphorein and potassmage); F 4, 25% of F2 + biofertilizers and F 5, inoculation with the bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter, phosphorein and potassmage). Results of the combined analysis indicated significant varietal differences in most yield attributes and all viability traits ( germination %, seedling dry weight and vigor index) where, Giza 136 surpassed over the other two cultivars( Giza131 and Giza123) .Withal,Giza123 outbraved significantly on Giza 136 and Giza 131 in plant height and straw yield (kg/fad). The F 3 fertilization regime (50% of recommended dose+ biofertilizers Azotobacter, phosphorein and Potassmage) gave the higher most value for each of chlorophyll content, plant height, No. of spikes/m 2 , grain weight/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain and straw yields kg/fad, harvest index and carbohydrate content, seedling dry weight and seedling vigor index, while the highest germination (%) was achieved with both fertilization regimes F 2 and F 3 .Mean germination time was not affected by fertilization regimes.