Plant, Soil and Environment - Latest articles
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Genotypic variation in physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional responses to drought stress in spring barley at an early growth stage
Šarlota Kaňuková, Marcela Gubišová, Martina Hudcovicová, Jozef Gubiš, Katarína Ondreičková
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):905-922 | DOI: 10.17221/406/2025-PSE 
Drought is a major abiotic stress limiting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) productivity. We evaluated 17 spring barley genotypes at the early leaf development stage under controlled laboratory conditions with optimal and drought treatments, integrating physiological, biochemical, and molecular traits. Drought reduced relative water content (–1.3% to –3.2%), plant height (–14.7% to –29.6%), and dry biomass (–2.3% to –24.9%), while inducing strong proline accumulation (+23.6% to +454%) and pigment loss (chlorophyll a –10.1% to –79.5%; carotenoids –6.2% to –70.9%). Principal component and...
Exploring the impact of potassium fertiliser rate and split ratio on rice yield and quality in China: a meta-analysis
Lijuan Deng, Duoji Wu, Weiqi Yuan, Zongqiang Wei, Yanlan Huang, Zhihua Hu, Jianfu Wu
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):891-904 | DOI: 10.17221/315/2025-PSE
Potassium (K) is crucial for rice yield and quality, but continuous yield increase reduces protein content, challenging the balance between high yield and quality. This study analysed 3 178 case studies (1994–2024) on K management impacts on rice yield, grain protein, and amylose content, evaluating effects of K fertiliser rates, base-topdressing ratios, planting regions, and soil properties. The results showed that K application significantly increased rice yield, protein content and amylose content by 11.6, 2.0 and 1.0%, respectively. Importantly, we identified targeted K fertilisation strategies tailored to different quality goals: optimising...
Response of potato tuber yield to NPK fertiliser in China: a meta-analysis
Shun Li, Lei Zeng, Ling Zhao
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):883-890 | DOI: 10.17221/514/2025-PSE
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an economically significant food crop in China, and increasing tuber yield is a national priority. We conducted a meta-analysis utilising 180 studies and 1 583 pairs of observations to quantify the effects of fertilisation on potato tuber yield using data on climate, soil nutrients, and planting strategies. Compared with no fertilisation, fertilisation increased tuber yield by 33.64% overall. Applying single N, P, or K fertilisers increased yield by 33.64, 23.37, and 16.18%, respectively; combined NP, NK, and PK applications increased yield by 33.64, 36.34, and 19.12%, respectively. The greatest yield increase...
Remediation of cadmium-polluted acidic soil with dolomite and calcite to enhance soil health and pak choi growth
Muhammad Shaaban, Lei Wu, Aneela Younas, Yupeng Wu
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):873-882 | DOI: 10.17221/390/2025-PSE
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop productivity and food safety. This study examined the use of dolomite and calcite amendments in reducing Cd toxicity in pak choi grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Treatments included: control (CK), Calcite 1 (Cal1, 10 g/kg soil), Calcite 2 (Cal2, 20 g/kg soil), Dolomite 1 (Dol1, 10 g/kg soil), and Dolomite 2 (Dol2, 20 g/kg soil). Amendments significantly increased soil pH (P ≤ 0.05), with Cal2 (6.5) and Dol2 (6.2) achieving the highest values at harvest. Cd availability declined (P ≤ 0.05), with Dol2 being the most effective, reducing the toxicity characteristic...
Multi-trait evaluation of oilseed rape varieties
Katarzyna Waszak, Konrad Banaś, Jacek Broniarz, Tomasz Lenartowicz, Henryk Bujak, Agnieszka Łacka, Marcin Przystalski
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):860-872 | DOI: 10.17221/337/2025-PSE
The multifaceted nature of agricultural management and environmental factors complicates the production of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). This study evaluated 25 varieties (21 hybrids and four populations) in three growing seasons (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) in Poland. The focus was on yield, fat content, and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The analyses revealed significant variability among the varieties, with the hybrids performing better consistently in terms of yield and fat content. The level of resistance to Sclerotinia was similar in hybrid and population varieties. Furthermore, DK Excited was found...
Occurrence of herbicides and their transformation products in sewage sludge: a review
Madhusha Mihirani Subasinghe, Filip Mercl, Sreynet Nang, Altyn Taisheva, Pavel Tlustoš
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):849-859 | DOI: 10.17221/485/2025-PSE
The beneficial reuse of sewage sludge in agricultural soils is limited by the accumulation of micropollutants of emerging concern, which may pose significant environmental and human health risks. This review summarises recent advances in understanding the occurrence, persistence, and fate of herbicides and their transformation products in sewage sludge. Data from various geographic regions are discussed, with a focus on implications for the safe reuse of biosolids in agriculture. Most available studies have been conducted in European Union countries, where land application of biosolids is a common practice. Twelve groups of herbicides and their transformation...
Effects of microplastics on farmland soils and plants: a review
Minhua Zhang, Weiguan Li, Qingkui Li, Aneela Younas, Muhammad Shaaban, Yuyang Li, Jing Liu, Yanfang Wang, Zhanqiang Ma, Zhaoyong Shi, Hongtao Shen, Ling Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):829-848 | DOI: 10.17221/180/2025-PSE
Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, which are widely present and have become one of the major pollutants in the natural environment, and are increasingly recognised as emerging pollutants in agricultural ecosystems. Due to their small size and high mobility, MPs can easily migrate into farmland soils and attach to plant surfaces, thereby altering the physical, chemical and microbial properties of the soil. These changes may affect seed germination, plant growth, and physiological and biochemical functions. This review systematically synthesises current research on the impact of MPs on agricultural soil, focusing on...
Geographical variations in soil properties and bacterial community diversity across major lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivation regions in the Ili River Valley
Junnan Jian, Shimin Tang, Shengjun Zhang, Ling Zhu, Bian Ran, Xuechao Zhang, Weikang Luo, Shilei Dong
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):805-819 | DOI: 10.17221/377/2025-PSE
The Ili region hosts China’s largest lavender cultivation base, yet soil bacterial diversity in its primary cultivation areas remains understudied. To address this, we compared soil bacterial communities across four major cultivation counties (Chabuchar, Agricultural Research Institute, Yining, and Huocheng). Essential oil profiles, soil properties, and bacterial community characteristics were analysed to elucidate microbial variations and environmental interactions. The results showed that: (1) The essential oil yield (1.14%) and linalool content (41.04%) in the Huocheng County cultivation area were significantly higher than those in other areas,...
Quantitative and qualitative changes in the green mass protein of white lupin during the growing season
Eva Straková, Pavel Suchý
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):820-828 | DOI: 10.17221/334/2025-PSE
The aim of the study was to assess the quantitative and qualitative changes in crude protein of the white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) green mass during the growing season in stands of three cultivars of white lupin (ZULIKA, AMIGA, DIETA), intended for feeding purposes as protein roughage, when grown under the same soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Changes in the crude protein and amino acid content were monitored during the growing season from the 9th to the 18th week of stand age. Changes in the crop dry weight were characterised by a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in crude protein...
Improvement of salt stress tolerance in sugar beet: role of gamma irradiation and cultivar-specific responses
Maisam Naji, Marjan Diyanat, Davood Habibi, Mehdi Sadeghi Shoa, Weria Wisany
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):793-804 | DOI: 10.17221/346/2025-PSE
This study investigates the effects of salt stress and gamma irradiation on growth, biochemical, and physiological responses in three sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars. Control plants were irrigated with fresh water (EC = 1.1 dS/m), whereas salt stress was imposed with an irrigation of 9 dS/m. Seeds were irradiated with gamma rays (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 Gy) before sowing. Exposure to salt stress reduced root yield (RY), sugar yield (SY), chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)). In contrast, oxidative damage increased, as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Interestingly,...
A comparative applied analysis of six robotic-assisted weeding systems in sugar beets
Sonja I. Kimmel, Matthias Schumacher, Michael Spaeth, Markus Sökefeld, Oyebanji O. Alagbo, Alicia Allmendinger, Dionisio Andujar, Therese W. Berge, Reiner Braun, Sergiu Cioca Parasca, Jessica Emminghaus, Ioannis Glykos, Pavel Hamouz, Adam Hruška, Michael Merkle, Georg Naruhn, Gerassimos G. Peteinatos, Bahadir Sin, Roland Gerhards
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):782-792 | DOI: 10.17221/335/2025-PSE
Effective weed management is crucial in the critical period of sugar beet production, but often lacks sustainability and environmental protection. Recent advancements in sensor-based weed control systems have rendered the latter a realistic prospect, which demands detailed analyses, especially under suboptimal field conditions. The present study analysed six robotic-assisted weed control systems (RAWS) in three experiments on sugar beets in 2024, conducted under dry soil and high weed pressure. The experiments included sensor-based inter-row and intra-row hoeing, spot- and band-spraying and were compared to a broadcast herbicide treatment and an untreated...
Soil nutrient contents in a long-term field experiment following the suspension of phosphorus and potassium fertilisation
Gabriela Mühlbachová, Helena Kusá, Pavel Růžek, Martin Káš, Radek Vavera
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):770-781 | DOI: 10.17221/310/2025-PSE
The effect of mineral, organic (manure or straw + intercrop) and combined fertilisation on the development of soil nutrient contents over time and their mutual ratios was evaluated in a long-term field trial, IOSDV (established in 1984 at two sites), differing in the soil-climatic conditions. Three cropping cycles, from 2016 to 2018, 2019 to 2021, and 2022 to 2024, were studied in the following crop rotation: winter wheat-winter barley-root crop (sugar beet at Ivanovice na Hané and potatoes at Lukavec). Potassium and phosphorus in mineral fertilisers have not been applied since the year 2020 due to their high content found in soils after dry years...
Cleanup goals for petroleum-contaminated pastures according to oil density, concentration, and soil type
Juan Pablo Montero-Vélez, Verónica Isidra Domínguez-Rodríguez, Randy H. Adams
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(11):759-769 | DOI: 10.17221/339/2025-PSE
The common 1% oil cleanup criterion was tested for pasture production according to oil type and concentration, in soil types frequently contaminated in southeastern Mexico. Reductions in aerial biomass of Brachiaria humidicola were measured over six months in soils contaminated with crude oils of varying grades (light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy). Dose-response curves for heavy crude-contaminated soils showed acceptable criteria (90% pasture) of 0.71, 0.56, 1.23, ~0.20 and < 0.10% oil for an Arenosol, Vertisol, Gleysol, Fluvisol and an Acrisol, respectively. Generally, for all crude oils, the 1% level resulted in pasture reductions of...
Influence of nitrogen, sulphur, and selenium foliar application on yield and accumulation of selenium in spring wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.)
Ladislav Ducsay, Alexandra Zapletalová, Mária Vicianová, Ladislav Varga, Marek Slepčan, Marek Rašovský, Vladimír Pačuta, Dávid Ernst, Peter Hozlár, Daša Kubatková, Jakub Sitkey
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):750-758 | DOI: 10.17221/67/2025-PSE
The study is focused on the evaluation of selenium, nitrogen and sulphur effects on yield, macro- and micronutrient content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) and quality (Se content, starch, fibre, ash and fat) in wheat grain. Small-plot field experiments (10 m2 each plot) were established on loam to clay loam mollic soil with total Se content 0.21–0.22 mg/kg in Želiezovce on the land of the Central Control and Testing Institute in Agriculture of the Slovak Republic. The effect of growing season on two sources of selenium, in the form of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3 · 5 H2O) and sodium selenate...
Mitigating drought effects in maize with Trichoderma harzianum (strain – ESALQ 1306): a bioinoculant for sustainable agriculture
Renato Lustosa Sobrinho, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Christiane Abreu de Oliveira-Paiva, Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira, Tiago Zoz, Bruno Rodrigues de Oliveira, Guilherme Carlos Fernandes, Karina da Silva Souza, Afrah E. Mohammed, Modhi O. Alotaibi, Seham. M. Hamed, Taciane Finatto
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):735-749 | DOI: 10.17221/330/2025-PSE
Agriculture faces increasing challenges due to climate change, underscoring the importance of beneficial microorganisms for enhancing crop resilience and improving soil health. However, the performance of microbial inoculant strains can vary widely depending on the cultivated species and environmental conditions. This study evaluated the ESALQ 1306 strain of Trichoderma harzianum, a soil fungus recognised as a biological control agent for crops such as soybean and strawberry, investigating its potential as a growth promoter in maize (Zea mays L.). Field experiments were conducted with three commercial cultivars (DKB255, DKB360, and 2B810)...
Synergistic impact of nano-fertilisers and seed priming on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield and quality traits
Lamy Hamed, Eman I. R. Emara
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):722-734 | DOI: 10.17221/357/2025-PSE
Enhancing sustainability in agriculture requires innovative practices that boost crop productivity while conserving natural resources. This two-season field study (2023–2025) in sandy soils of El Sadat City, Egypt, evaluated the combined effects of nano-fertilisers and seed priming on the growth and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Five fertilisation regimes, ranging from 100% conventional to 100% nano-formulations, were tested under both primed and unprimed seed treatments. The results demonstrated that the integration of nano-fertilisers with seed priming significantly improved sugar yield (up to 36.1 t/ha), sucrose content (20.35%),...
Lignite-derived organic fertiliser enhanced the carbon sequestration capacity of woody plant by improving soil quality and promoting plant growth
Qianru Wu, Ruofan Bu, Taotao Wang, Bei Zhang, Kylan Jin, Liang Chen
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):708-721 | DOI: 10.17221/265/2025-PSE
As essential natural carbon sinks, woody plants play a key role in urban ecological restoration. The lignite-derived organic fertiliser (LOF) may promote plant growth and carbon sequestration by improving soil properties. This study investigated LOF effects on three typical woody plants – Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott. with taproots, Malus × micromalus Makino with fibrous roots, and Malus domestica Borkh. with both taproots and fibrous roots – focused on soil properties improvement during a three-year planting experiment (2021–2023). The results indicated that LOF application significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM)...
Contribution to the turbidimetric method for sulphur determination in arable soils
Olya Surleva, Katrin Chavdarova, Vilyana Kazanlaklieva, Lyudmila Angelova, Andriana Surleva
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):695-707 | DOI: 10.17221/250/2025-PSE
Sulphur (S) plays an important role in agriculture, being the fourth major contributor to improved quality of crops and increased yields. The applied methods for the estimation of different forms of S in soil aimed at assessing the sulphur availability to plants in various conditions. Nowadays, the wider spreading of regions with sulphur deficiency imposes optimisation of the soil testing procedures in order to increase their availability for laboratories. This study contributes to improving the analytical performance of the turbidimetric method in determining water-soluble sulphate in soil after leaching with the CaCl2 reagent. The modified...
Growth and yield responses of maize, beetroot, and quinoa to salinity and straw mulching
Chau Thi Nhien, Cao Dinh An Giang, Brooke Kaveney, Jason Condon, Tran Duy Khanh, Dang Duy Minh, Nguyen Viet Long, Nguyen Van Loc, Chau Minh Khoi
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(10):681-694 | DOI: 10.17221/317/2025-PSE
Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta (MRD), where rice is the dominant crop, is increasingly impacted by salinity intrusion, highlighting the need for alternative cropping options. This study evaluated the growth and yield performance of quinoa, beetroot, and maize under three irrigation salinity levels (0, 2 and 4 g/L), with and without rice straw mulch (7 t/ha), in greenhouse conditions representative of the MRD dry season. Agronomic traits, physiological parameters, and changes in soil, including electrical conductivity (ECe), soluble sodium (Sol-Na+), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), were assessed. Results showed that quinoa demonstrated...
Species-specific responses of wheat and maize to thallium stress under elevated CO2: effects on yield, photosynthesis, and metabolism
Samy Selim Abdelsalam, Soad K. Al Jaouni, Seham M. Hamed, Emad A. Alsherif, Afrah E. Mohammed, Modhi O. Alotaibi, Danyah A. Aldailami, Wael A. Obaid
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):666-679 | DOI: 10.17221/328/2025-PSE
Heavy metal stress inhibits plant growth, but this impact is less studied and pronounced under climate change conditions. The present study investigates the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic responses of wheat (C3) and maize (C4) exposed to varying thallium (Tl) stress (60 and 120 mg/kg) under ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2, 710 µmol/mol) CO2 levels. High Tl exposure markedly reduced grain yield by 58% in wheat and 68% in maize at 120 mg/kg under aCO2. However, eCO2 partially offset the negative effects, increasing yield by ~20% in wheat and 36% in maize at 60 mg/kg Tl. eCO2...
Physiological and biochemical bases of AMF-mediated antimony stress tolerance in Linum usitatissimum: enhancing growth, phytochemical production, and oxidative damage resilience
Ahlem Zrig, Shereen M. Korany, Hana Sonbol, Emad A. Alsherif, Foued Hammouda, Danyah A. Aldailami, Marwa Yousry A. Mohamed, Mohamed S. Sheteiwy, Maria Gabriela Maridueña-Zavala, Salma Yousif Sidahmed Elsheikh
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):650-665 | DOI: 10.17221/246/2025-PSE
Antimony (Sb) pollution from industrial activities poses a severe global threat, particularly impacting valuable medicinal crops like linseed, which are highly sensitive to heavy metals. This study reveals the remarkable potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as a sustainable solution to this challenge. Our research demonstrates that while Sb stress significantly impairs linseed growth and photosynthesis, it also triggers oxidative damage. AMF improved photosynthetic performance and water status, and notably enhanced the biosynthesis of crucial phytochemicals like phenolics, flavonoids, and citric acid. These compounds are vital for both plant...
Effect of abscisic acid and epibrassinolide on physiological and hormonal responses of tomato plants subjected to water stress
Jaromir Janousek, Zuzana Kovalikova, Alena Gaudinová, Jozef Lacek, Jiri Tuma
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):638-649 | DOI: 10.17221/151/2025-PSE
In this study, the effect of abscisic acid (ABA; 150 μmol) or epibrassinolide (EBL, 3 μmol) in mitigating the adverse drought conditions was evaluated in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Vilma). Potted plants were subjected to two 6-day periods separated by a one-time rehydration. Results showed that water deficit increased the content of superoxide radical (O2•−), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, ABA and its metabolites. On the other hand, the studied cytokinins showed a rather opposite trend. ABA application maintained and later reduced the O2•− content....
Correlation of DGT-P and conventional soil P tests with rye shoot biomass and P uptake across temperate soils with differential soil properties
Alireza Golestanifard, Markus Puschenreiter, Robert Manglberger, Marion Gotthard, Herbert Eigner, Bernhard Spangl, Walter Wenzel, Jakob Santner
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):621-637 | DOI: 10.17221/308/2025-PSE
Several phosphorus (P) extraction tests are being used as soil P tests, but many studies have shown that the correlation of extractable P with plant yield and P uptake varies and sometimes is poor. Infinite sink extraction methods may be superior in estimating plant P availability. Soil P tests were evaluated for their power in determining plant-available P pools. Thirty arable soils covering different soil groups were tested for soil characteristics and extractable P pools. Rye was grown on these soils for six weeks and analysed for shoot yield and shoot P concentrations. Correlations between soil P concentrations, shoot yield and shoot P content...
Effects of PEG-simulated drought stress and selenite treatment on mineral nutrient homeostasis in wheat roots and shoots
Feiyan Yu, Ying Wang, Xue Luo, Kaiwei Li, Jingwen Hou, Gaogao Dai, Huimin Yuan, Lianhe Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):614-620 | DOI: 10.17221/300/2025-PSE
Drought stress severely impairs seed germination and early seedling establishment, and disrupts the uptake and distribution of essential mineral nutrients in plants. This study investigated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought and Na2SeO3 application on the accumulation and redistribution of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in wheat roots and shoots. Under PEG-simulated drought, increasing PEG concentrations resulted in a progressive decline in nutrient concentrations in both roots and shoots, with significant reductions in K, Ca, S,...
Variation in the capacity for organic nitrogen acquisition along the root length of rice and wheat
Baozhen Li, Paul W. Hill, Emily C. Cooledge, Davey L. Jones, Zhifan Zhang, Yue Xie, Tida Ge, Jianlin Shen
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):604-613 | DOI: 10.17221/229/2025-PSE
Oligopeptides constitute an important yet understudied component of soil’s dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) pool, representing a primary breakdown product of proteins. However, the mechanisms of oligopeptide uptake and utilisation by crop roots remain poorly understood in a plant nutrition context. We investigated the rate and spatial uptake pattern of 14C-labelled alanine and di- to pentapeptides of alanine in wheat and rice under sterile hydroponic conditions. Both species demonstrated the capacity to absorb N through amino acids and oligopeptides, with rice roots showing higher peptide uptake than wheat. Specifically, alanine absorption...
Improvement of lucerne germination and seedling performance through a combined seed priming method
Ondřej Szabó, Michaela Kovandová, Zuzana Hrevušová, Saniya Tyulendinova, Josef Hakl
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(9):595-603 | DOI: 10.17221/260/2025-PSE
Seed priming is an effective seed treatment procedure and has been shown to improve the emergence of seedlings in various crops. However, there is a lack of systematic research for these techniques in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), especially for combinations of priming agents. This study aimed to screen 22 biologically active compounds and then to evaluate the potential of combinations of these agents, assessing the dynamics of germination, seedling length, and performance, in a pot experiment for selected combinations. About half of the screened agents increased germination rate (on the 3rd day) or seedling length (from 8% to 75%),...
Combined application of biochar and phosphorus influenced maize production and soil properties in the Yellow River Delta: a comparison between contrasting weather conditions
Xiaoqi Tang, Chunming Jiang, Hongjie Li, Jing Tian, Dawei Li, Xuan Zhang, Xiuli Ge, Xia Liu, Wenjun Gao, Guoli Liu, Wenjuan Li
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(8):581-594 | DOI: 10.17221/268/2025-PSE
The Yellow River Delta, an important area of reserved arable land resources in China, is faced with the problem of crop productivity being typically limited by low soil quality. Developing techniques that raised crop yield without environmental damage was critically needed. To date, the knowledge about the joint impacts of biochar (C) and phosphorus (P) addition on soil properties and maize production under different weather conditions in this area is seriously lacking. Consequently, a full factorial field experiment including three biochar intensities (0 (C0), 5 000 (C1), and 10 000 (C2) kg/ha), three phosphorus fertilisation levels (0 (P0), 60 (P1),...
The changes in growth, yield, and biologically active compounds of essential oil in Trachyspermum ammi L. upon rhizobacteria and seaweed applications
Aya H. El-Nagar, Kholoud Z. Ghanem, Fahmy A.S. Hassan, Mohammed I. Fetouh, Rasha S. El-Serafy, Mohamed M. Moussa
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(8):565-580 | DOI: 10.17221/266/2025-PSE
Using biostimulants to enhance plant growth and increase yield and secondary metabolites in medicinal and aromatic plants is an important strategy to achieve sustainable agriculture. The influence of two strains of nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria (NFB) of Azotobacter chroococcum (NFB1) and Azospirillum lipoferum (NFB2), three levels of seaweed extract (SWE; 0 (SWE1), 250 (SWE1), and 500 mg/L (SWE2)) and their interactions have been investigated on Trachyspermum ammi L. (ajwain) growth, fruit yield, and essential oil constituents for two winter seasons. Growth traits (plant height, number of branches, and fresh and dry weights) and...
Nano-silica modulates salt stress response in lettuce by enhancing growth, antioxidant activity, and mineral uptake
Ozlem Cakmakci, Suat Sensoy
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(8):553-564 | DOI: 10.17221/233/2025-PSE
Salt stress is a significant abiotic factor that limits crop growth and yield. Nano-fertilisers, effective even in small quantities, have gained prominence for their ability to enhance plant growth and stress tolerance. This study investigated the effects of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) at different concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L solution) under varying saline water application levels (0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 dS/m) on growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and nutrient uptake in lettuce. The greenhouse experiment followed a randomised complete block design with three replications. Results demonstrated that SiNPs effectively increased...
Wheat (C3) and maize (C4) adaptive responses to soil thallium toxicity under elevated CO2 conditions
Wael A. Obaid, Samy Selim, Seham M. Hamed, Emad A. Alsherif, Shereen Magdy Korany, Hana Sonbol, Danyah A. Aldailami, Soad K. Al Jaouni
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(8):534-552 | DOI: 10.17221/239/2025-PSE
This study investigated how wheat (C3) and maize (C4) respond to soil thallium (Tl) contamination and elevated CO2 (eCO2), aiming to understand strategies for mitigating oxidative stress. Under eCO2, both crops showed higher biomass production. However, high Tl concentration (120 mg/kg) significantly decreased fresh and dry weights by 31–59%, which translated directly to compromised yield. This growth decline is linked to impaired photosynthesis, evidenced by a 54–57% drop in net photosynthetic rate under elevated Tl. Such photosynthetic inhibition intensifies oxidative stress, marked by increased membrane...