Application of Silica Nanoparticles in Combination with Two Bacterial Strains Improves the Growth, Antioxidant Capacity and Production of Barley Irrigated with Saline Water in Salt-Affected Soil

Abstract

Exploitation of low-quality water or irrigation of field crops with saline water in salt-affected soil is a critical worldwide challenge that rigorously influences agricultural productivity and sustainability, especially in arid and semiarid zones with limited freshwater resources. Therefore, we investigated a synergistic amendment strategy for salt-affected soil using a singular and combined application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR at 950 g ha−1; Azotobacter chroococcum SARS 10 and Pseudomonas koreensis MG209738) and silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) at 500 mg L−1 to mitigate the detrimental impacts of irrigation with saline water on the growth, physiology, and productivity of barley (Hordum vulgare L.), along with soil attributes and nutrient uptake during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. Our field trials showed that the combined application of PGPR and SiNPs significantly improved the soil physicochemical properties, mainly by reducing the soil exchangeable sodium percentage. Additionally, it considerably enhanced the microbiological counts (i.e., bacteria, azotobacter, and bacillus) and soil enzyme activity (i.e., urease and dehydrogenase) in both growing seasons compared with the control. The combined application of PGPR and SiNPs alleviated the detrimental impacts of saline water on barley plants grown in salt-affected soil compared to the single application of PGPR or SiNPs. The marked improvement was due to the combined application of PGPR and SiNPs, which enhanced the physiological properties (e.g., relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance, and K/Na ratio), enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX)), and yield and yield-related traits and nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) of barley plants. Moreover, the Na+ content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, lipid peroxidation (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), and proline content were reduced upon the application of PGPR + SiNPs. These results could be important information for cultivating barley and other cereal crops in salt-affected soil under irrigation with saline water.

Maximization of brackish water productivity for the sustainable production of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivated under an integrated aquaculture–agriculture system

“…Salinity not only disintegrates the chlorophyll structure and integrity but also denatures enzymes responsible for chlorophyll biosynthesis, hence leading to a decrease in chlorophyll content of leaves, growth, and yield (Mugwanya et al 2022 ; Nawaz et al 2022 ). Similar results have previously been reported in Oryza sativa L. (Hakim et al 2014 ; Kumar et al 2021 ), Triticum aestivum (Eroglu et al 2020 ; Adil et al 2022 ), Hordeum vulgare L. (Noreen et al 2021 ; Alharbi et al 2022 ), and Zea mays (Bouras et al 2021 ; Ali et al 2022 ).…”

Potassium Silicate improves drought tolerance in Cotton by modulating growth, gas exchange and antioxidant activities

“…5a). In a similar vein, numerous studies have shown that silicon nanoparticles increase the antioxidant activity of various crops [51], [52], [53], [54]. Thus, potassium silicate treatment increases SOD, glutathione reductase [19], and catalase activities [55], slightly balancing the negative effects of drought on plants.…”

Synergistic impact of nanomaterials and plant probiotics in agriculture: A tale of two-way strategy for long-term sustainability

“…This, in turn, modulates different biochemical and molecular signal transducing pathways, resulting in improved signal perception and, as a result, increased growth and yield potential ( Bhatt et al, 2020 ). However, recent evidence suggests that the coupling effect of plant probiotics (PPs) and NMs may play an excellent role in managing abiotic stress ( Azmat et al, 2022 ; Muhammad et al, 2022 ; Alharbi et al, 2022a , b ). The combo effect of NMs and PPs exhibits various stress ameliorating effects by improving levels of photosynthetic pigments, activities of antioxidant enzymes, total soluble sugars, and reducing stress markers such as MDA content and electrolytic leakage in plants under salt stress ( Yasmin et al, 2021 ; Alharbi et al, 2022a ) and drought stress ( Akhtar et al, 2021 ; Azmat et al, 2022 ).…”

“…However, recent evidence suggests that the coupling effect of plant probiotics (PPs) and NMs may play an excellent role in managing abiotic stress ( Azmat et al, 2022 ; Muhammad et al, 2022 ; Alharbi et al, 2022a , b ). The combo effect of NMs and PPs exhibits various stress ameliorating effects by improving levels of photosynthetic pigments, activities of antioxidant enzymes, total soluble sugars, and reducing stress markers such as MDA content and electrolytic leakage in plants under salt stress ( Yasmin et al, 2021 ; Alharbi et al, 2022a ) and drought stress ( Akhtar et al, 2021 ; Azmat et al, 2022 ). Recently Etesami et al (2022) deciphered how the combination of nanosilicon and arbuscular mycorrhiza can be a prolific tactic to mitigate environmental stresses in crops and achieve sustainable plant productivity.…”