Exogenously applied nitrogenous fertilizers and effective microorganisms improve plant growth of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) and soil fertility

Revitalizing maize growth and yield in water-limited environments through silicon and zinc foliar applications

Maize is an economically vital cereal crop. However, water deficiency can severely impact its productivity. Thus, it is necessary to implement an essential approach to increase maize yield while navigating the limitations imposed by scarce water supplies. The present study aimed to investigate whether foliar applications of silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) could mitigate the adverse effects of water deficiency and improve maize growth and yield. Field experiments were conducted in Egypt during two growing seasons (2021-2022) under three irrigation regimes: full irrigation (ET0), moderate stress (ET1), and severe stress (ET2). The treatments comprised foliar sprays of Si, Zn, Si + Zn, and water control. Phenological, growth, physiological, chemical, and yield-related traits were assessed. Results showed that adequate irrigation (ET0) enhanced most parameters compared to water stress treatments. Under ET0, the combined silicon and zinc treatment resulted in the highest values for plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, grains per ear, kernel weight, ear size, and yield compared to other foliar treatments. Under drought stress (ET1, ET2), Si + Zn applications maintained superiority in mitigating yield losses. Proline accumulation was highest under severe stress (ET2) in the absence of foliar sprays, indicating greater drought impacts. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations of grain yield with ear size, leaf area, kernel weight, and biological yield. Cluster analysis separated irrigation regimes and visualized the consistently beneficial effects of Si + Zn across all water levels. Overall, the results demonstrate the synergistic potential of Si and Zn supplementation to sustain maize performance and yields under varying water availability.

Improved plant yield of potato through exogenously applied potassium fertilizer sources and biofertilizer

Excessive usage of chemical fertilizers has detrimental effects on the environment and the safety of food. Conversely, utilizing organic fertilizers such as sage offers several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, soil enhancement, and promotion of root development. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of different potassium fertilizer sources and biofertilizers (specifically Bacillus cereus (MBc)) on potato plants. The experiment employed a split-plot design with three replicates, where the main plot factor was MBc (with and without), and the subplot factor was the sources of potassium fertilizer (control without K fertilizer, 100% Feldspar (FD), 100% Filter cake (FC), 75% FD + 25% FC, 25% FD + 75% FC, and 50% FD + 50% FC). The purpose was to examine the growth response of potato plants to these treatments. The results indicated that all treatments increased plant height, stem count, and tuber dry matter compared to the control. Furthermore, all treatments exhibited a higher uptake of macronutrients (N, P, and K) compared to the control. Notably, the plants treated with 100FC combined with MBc showed a significant 104.74% increase in total tuber weight compared to the control treatment. Additionally, the addition of 100FC with MBc significantly enhanced the availability of N, P, and K by 73.13%, 110.33%, and 51.88% respectively, compared to the control treatment. Apart from the biofertilizers, the individual application of FC and its combination with FD also demonstrated positive effects on soil fertility, potato growth, and yield.

Effective Microorganisms as Halal-Based Sources for Biofertilizer Production and Some Socio-Economic Insights: A Review

This paper aims to review the literature on 'Effective Microorganism (EM)' and 'Fertilizer' from the Scopus database and to discuss EMs using Halal-based sources for biofertilizer production from socio economic insights. Based on EM and fertilizer publications on the Scopus database, all the 17 papers reviewed provided no detailed information on the Halal-status of the biofertilizers inoculated with EM. The impacts of Halal-certified biofertilizers will trigger the Halal certification in food products by (a) catering for the increasing Halal food demand due to expectedly Muslim population expansion, (b) contributing to the sustainable buying behaviour of Halal products' consumers in the future, (c) catering for the increasing number of Muslim travellers around the world, (d) becoming a positive driver for higher production of more Halal foods that can enhance food safety, human health and well-being, and (e) creating a cost-effective and increasing food marketability. The later three points (c, d and e) play a very important role in a country's societal well-being and economic growth and development. Although Halal-status is not a must for the world's food marketing, Halal-certified biofertilizer for the Halal-status of food carries the greatest potential to enter the ever-expanding Muslim markets. Finally, it is postulated that the successful usage of EM using Halal-based sources for biofertilizer production will result in two major outcomes from the points of United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals # 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and # 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Hence, the presented review provides a starting point for future research considering sustainability and innovation as priorities.

Estimating the combining ability and genetic parameters for growth habit, yield, and fiber quality traits in some Egyptian cotton crosses

It is crucial to understand how targeted traits in a hybrid breeding program are influenced by gene activity and combining ability. During the three growing seasons of 2015, 2016, and 2017, a field study was conducted with twelve cotton genotypes, comprised of four testers and eight lines. Thirty-two F1 crosses were produced in the 2015 breeding season using the line x tester mating design. The twelve genotypes and their thirty-two F1 crosses were then evaluated in 2016 and 2017. The results demonstrated highly significant differences among cotton genotypes for all the studied traits, showing a wide range of genetic diversity in the parent genotypes. Additionally, the line-x-tester interaction was highly significant for all traits, suggesting the impact of both additive and non-additive variations in gene expression. Furthermore, the thirty-two cotton crosses showed high seed cotton output, lint cotton yield, and fiber quality, such as fiber length values exceeding 31 mm and a fiber strength above 10 g/tex. Accordingly, selecting lines and testers with high GCA effects and crosses with high SCA effects would be an effective approach to improve the desired traits in cotton and develop new varieties with excellent yield and fiber quality.

The biological and biochemical composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as affected by the bio and organic fertilizers

Microorganisms and organic compounds (humic and fulvic acid) offer viable alternatives to insecticides and mineral fertilizers. Even though many studies have shown the effects of biofertilizers and organic substances separately, little information is available on plant responses to the combined application of these bio-stimulants, even though these biological inputs have a high potential for simultaneous action. A two-year (2020/21-2021/22) field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of organic and biofertilizers application on the growth, yield, and biochemical attributes of wheat (cv. Misr-1). Pre-planting, wheat seeds were inoculated with two biofertilizers including Mycorrhizae, and Azotobacter, and their combination (MIX), and control (un-inoculation) were considered the main plot factor. The subplot factor contained the foliar sprays of humic acid, fulvic acid, and control (no spray). The results revealed that the seed inoculation with mycorrhizae and azotobacter in combination with foliar-applied humic acid markedly (p ≤ 0.05) affected the growth, yield, and seed biochemical composition of wheat. Combination of mycorrhiza and azotobacter significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased) plant height (100 cm), crop growth rate (18.69 g), number of spikelets per spike (22), biological yield (13.4 ton ha-1), grain yield (5.56 ton ha-1), straw yield (8.21 ton ha-1),), nitrogen (2.07%), phosphorous (0.91%), potassium (1.64%), protein content (12.76%), starch (51.81%), and gluten content (30.90%) compared to control. Among organic fertilizers, humic acid caused the maximum increase in plant height (93 cm), crop growth rate ( 15 g day-1 m-2),1000 grain weight (51 g), biological yield ( 11ton ha-1), grain yield (4.5 ton ha-1), protein content (11%), chlorophyll content (46 SPAD), and gluten (29.45%) as compared to all other treatments. The foliar application of humic acid combined with the mycorrhizae or azotobacter seed inoculation was efficient to induce wheat vegetative growth development, as well as yield and its components.

Preparation, biocontrol activity and growth promotion of biofertilizer containing Streptomyces aureoverticillatus HN6

Nowadays, due to the excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural production, many problems, such as soil hardening and soil-borne diseases, have become increasingly prominent, which seriously restrict the sustainable development of agriculture. The application of microbial fertilizer prepared by biocontrol microorganisms can not only improve soil structure and increase fertility but also have the function of controlling diseases. Streptomyces aureoverticillatus HN6 has obvious disease prevention and growth promotive effect, which can improve the rhizosphere fertility of plants and even regulate the rhizosphere microbial community of plants. Based on the comparison of frame composting and natural composting, we used the response surface method to optimize the preparation conditions of Streptomyces HN6 bacterial fertilizer. The results showed that natural composting not only produced higher composting temperatures and maintained long high temperature periods in accordance with local conditions, but was also more suitable for composting in the field according to local conditions. Therefore, the substrate's conductivity changed more, the ash accumulation increased, and the substrate decomposed more thoroughly. Thus, this composting method is highly recommended. Additionally, Streptomyces HN6 microbial fertilizer EC20 can reduce cowpea fusarium wilt and promote cowpea growth. The number of plant leaves, plant height and fresh weight, increased significantly in the microbial fertilizer EC20. Moreover, Streptomyces HN6 fertilizer EC20 could significantly induce soil invertase, urease and catalase activities. Our study highlights the potential use of Streptomyces HN6 as a biofertilizer to improve plant productivity and biological control of plant pathogenic fungi.

Genetic analysis of yield traits in Egyptian cotton crosses (Gossypium barbdense L.) under normal conditions

To generate high-yielding cultivars with favorable fiber quality traits, cotton breeders can use information about combining ability and gene activity within a population to locate elite parents and potential F1 crosses. To this end, in the current study, twelve cotton parents (eight genotypes as female parents and four testers) and their F1 crosses obtained utilizing the linex tester mating design were evaluated for their general and specialized combining abilities (GCA and SCA, respectively) of yield traits. The findings showed that for all the investigated variables, variances owing to genotypes, parents, crosses, and parent vs cross showed extremely significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences. Additionally, throughout the course of two growing seasons, the mean squares for genotypes (parents and crosses) showed strong significance for all the variables under study. The greatest and most desired means for all the examined qualities were in the parent G.94, Pima S6, and tester G.86. The best crossings for the qualities examined were G.86 (G.89 × G.86), G.93 × Suvin, and G.86 × Suvin. The parents' Suvin, G89x G86 and TNB were shown to have the most desired general combining ability effects for seed cotton yield/plant, lint yield/plant, boll weight, number of bolls/plants, and lint index, while Suvin, G.96 and pima S6 were preferred for favored lint percentage. For seed cotton yield, lint percentage, boll weight, and number of bolls per plant per year, the cross-G.86 x (G.89 × G.86) displayed highly significant specific combining ability impacts. The crosses G.86 × Suvin, Kar x TNB, G.93 × Suvin, and G.93 × TNB for all the studied traits for each year and their combined were found to have highly significant positive heterotic effects relative to better parent, and they could be used in future cotton breeding programs for improving the studied traits.

Response of Bread Wheat Cultivars Inoculated with Azotobacter Species under Different Nitrogen Application Rates

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%.

Determination of morpho-physiological and yield traits of maize inbred lines (Zea mays L.) under optimal and drought stress conditions

Globally, climate change could hinder future food security that concurrently implies the importance of investigating drought stress and genotype screening under stressed environments. Hence, the current study was performed to screen 45 diverse maize inbred lines for 18 studied traits comprising phenological, physiological, morphological, and yield characters under optimum and water stress conditions for two successive growing seasons (2018 and 2019). The results showed that growing seasons and water regimes significantly influenced (p < 0.01) most of the studied traits, while inbred lines had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on all of the studied traits. The findings also showed a significant increase in all studied characters under normal conditions compared to drought conditions, except chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, and proline content which exhibited higher levels under water stress conditions. Furthermore, the results of the principal component analysis indicated a notable distinction between the performance of the 45 maize inbred lines under normal and drought conditions. In terms of grain yield, the drought tolerance index (DTI) showed that Nub60 (1.56), followed by Nub32 (1.46), Nub66 (1.45), and GZ603 (1.44) were the highest drought-tolerant inbred lines, whereas Nub46 (0.38) was the lowest drought-tolerant inbred line. These drought-tolerant inbred lines were able to maintain a relatively high grain yield under normal and stress conditions, whereas those drought-sensitive inbred lines showed a decline in grain yield when exposed to drought conditions. The hierarchical clustering analysis based on DTI classified the forty-five maize inbred lines and eighteen measured traits into three column- and row-clusters, as inbred lines in cluster-3 followed by those in cluster-2 exhibited greater drought tolerance in most of the studied traits. Utilizing the multi-trait stability index (MTSI) criterion in this study identified nine inbred lines, including GZ603, as stable genotypes in terms of the eighteen studied traits across four environments. The findings of the current investigation motivate plant breeders to explore the genetic potential of the current maize germplasm, especially in water-stressed environments.