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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 damage and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Furthermore, photorespiration contributed to oxidative stress by generating H₂O₂, with increased activities of glycolate oxidase and hydroxypyruvate reductase rising by 122% and 201%, in wheat and by 179% and 39% in maize, respectively, in response to 120 mg/kg TI under eCO₂ conditions. Simultaneously, to mitigate oxidative damage, antioxidant defences were significantly enhanced, resulting in increased activity of the ascorbate (ASC)/glutathione (GSH) cycle, along with elevated levels of metallothionein and phytochelatin for Tl sequestration, as well as augmented glutathione S-transferase activity. Overall, findings reveal complex interactions between CO₂ and Tl, highlighting species-specific adaptive responses of C3 and C4 plants. C3 plants use photorespiration to combat oxidative stress, while C3 and C4 plants have strong antioxidant systems to reduce the effects of oxidative stress, promoting crop resilience and growth despite Tl toxicity.

Although the effects of fertiliser addition and liming on semi-natural grassland productivity and biomass quality are well documented, less is known about how fertilisers change plant functional groups and mean ecological values. We researched the effects of liming (no lime and lime with 1 t/ha) and mineral fertilisers (control – no fertilisers, PK-P60K60, N20PK-N20P60K60, N80PK-N80P60K60, and N140PK-N140P60K60) for nine years on the Danthonia alpina Vest. grassland community. Based on Brown-Blanquet cover abundance, we calculated Shannon-Wiener evenness and abundance of plant functional groups (based on height, canopy structure, storage organs presence and flowering duration). We also researched Landolt’s ecological indicator values for nutrients, moisture, reaction, light, and temperature. Results revealed that fertilisers stimulated tall species with longer flowering duration. Shannon-Wiener evenness in control was 0.45, and N20PK increased to 0.71 but significantly decreased in treatment N140PK (0.25). Mean Landolt ecological value for nutrients and moisture increased while temperature dropped. The coverage of legumes and Landolt indicator value for nutrients increased because of the lime application, while the lime had no effect on Shannon-Wiener evenness and abundance of functional groups. Greater Shannon-Wiener evenness in treatments of PK and N20PK is a prerequisite for resistance to the effects of extreme climate events.

Improved soil properties are commonly reported benefits of adding biochar to agriculture soils. To investigate the range of biochar's effects on soil chemical properties (e.g., soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total carbon (TC), and soil carbon-nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio)) in response to varied experimental conditions, a meta-analysis was conducted on previously published results. The results showed that the effect of biochar on soil chemical properties varied depending on management conditions, soil properties, biochar pyrolysis conditions, and biochar properties. The effect size (Hedges'd) of the biochar was greatest for SOC (0.50), the C:N ratio of soil (0.44), soil pH (0.39), TC (0.35), EC (0.21), and CEC (0.20). Among the various factors examined by aggregated boosted tree analysis, the effects of biochar on soil chemical properties were largely explained by the biochar application rate, initial soil pH, and soil sand content. In conclusion, our study suggests that improving soil chemical properties by adding biochar not only requires consideration of biochar application rates and chemical properties but also the local soil environmental factors, especially soil initial pH and sand content of the soil, should be considered.

Drought stress severely impairs seed germination. Selenium (Se) is a potential mitigator of abiotic stress, but its physiological mechanisms in alleviating osmotic stress during seed germination remain poorly understood. This study investigated how Se alleviates the inhibition of rice seed germination induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought. The results indicated that co-application of Se and PEG effectively alleviated the PEG-induced suppression of germination. Se significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase by 31.0%, peroxidase by 39.0%, catalase by 42.9%, and ascorbate peroxidase by 41.8%, along with elevating the concentrations of glutathione by 19.0% and ascorbate by 38.3%. Consequently, Se attenuated the PEG-induced burst of reactive oxygen species, reducing H₂O₂ by 21.0% and O₂^– by 19.1%, and alleviated lipid peroxidation, as reflected by a 20.0% decrease in malondialdehyde concentration. Furthermore, Se partially restored osmotic homeostasis by increasing the accumulation of soluble sugars by 15.9%, soluble proteins by 11.4%, free amino acids by 18.4%, and free proline by 26.3%. It also counteracted PEG-imposed inhibition of hydrolytic enzymes, enhancing α-amylase and protease activities by 26.6% and 11.2%, respectively. Notably, Se accumulation in seeds was reduced under PEG stress, suggesting impaired the penetration of exogenous Se under PEG-simulated drought. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Se alleviates PEG-induced osmotic stress in germinating rice seeds by enhancing antioxidant capacity, maintaining osmotic balance, and sustaining reserve mobilisation.

The boron (B) availability and uptake were studied in relation to different phosphorus rates applied into soils in a three-year field experiment (2015-2017). The experiment was carried out at the experimental station at Humpolec (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, Czech Republic). Three rates of phosphorus (20-40-80 kg P/ha) were applied as triple superphosphate. The crop rotation was spring barley-winter oilseed rape-winter wheat. No systematic fertilization with B was used and the response of natural boron soil content to the different phosphorus supply was studied. The crop yields, B content in plants, B-uptake, and content of B (extracted by Mehlich 3 and NH₄ acetate methods) were determined. Spring barley and winter wheat B uptake was about one order of magnitude lower in comparison with oilseed rape. Significant differences in B content in soils, in crop tissues and B-uptake, were found mainly under higher phosphorus doses (40 and 80 kg P/ha). NH₄ acetate method showed better correlations between P and B contents in soils than Mehlich 3 method from the second experimental year. The P-fertilization may affect negatively the B-uptake by plants, particularly if the highly nutrient demanding crop is grown.

Maintaining nitrogen (N) balance and inhibiting N leaching loss in the soil-crop system is crucial to maintaining yield and reducing the environmental pollution. This study investigated the effects of soil NO₃^--N content and accumulation, eggplant yield, N leaching and balance response to biochar addition, including regular fertilisation and irrigation (W + F), biochar addition with regular fertilisation and irrigation (W + F + B), and biochar addition with 20% fertilisation and irrigation reduction (0.8W + 0.8F + B) treatments. Compared with W + F, W + F + B and 0.8W + 0.8F + B increased soil NO₃^--N content in 0-40 cm and soil NO₃^--N accumulation in 0-20 cm, and raised harvest index, N surplus and balance. Simultaneously, 0.8W + 0.8F + B compared to W + F enhanced N use efficiency and N partial factor productivity, conversely, it decreased N dry matter production efficiency, N surplus and balance. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that the effect of NO₃^--N leaching lasted in 60 cm under biochar addition in the first year, and lasted in 20 cm without biochar application in the next year. Altogether, biochar addition with 20% fertilisation and irrigation reduction is the most suitable management strategy to decrease N surplus and leaching, and maintain eggplant N uptake in a two-year cycle system on greenhouse vegetables in Mollisols.

Drought stress is a significant abiotic stressor that has a negative impact on crop production and global food security systems. Drought stress was applied to eggplant seedlings with various field capacities (FC), 80% FC as control, 50% FC, 35% FC, and 20% FC. AgNPs were synthesised from green chemical methods, whereas different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 µmol) were applied exogenously on drought-stressed eggplants. Drought stress decreased the growth parameters (plant height, fresh mass, dry mass, leaf area), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids), and protein content while increased the proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and activity of the antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). AgNPs restricted proline accumulation and reduced H₂O_2, MDA content by upregulating the antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the current study's findings indicated that AgNPs are an effective eco-friendly and low-cost application for plant growth under drought stress, with the potential to mitigate the impact of drought on plants.

Soil microorganisms play a main role in the nutrient cycle and they also play an important role in soil health. This article studies the influence of three rates of biochar (0.5, 1 and 3%) in comparison with control (0 biochar) in two different soils (Valečov and Čistá) on soil microbiota activities. The biochar was prepared from 80% of digestate from Zea mays L. and 20% of cellulose fibres by pyrolysis (470°C, 17 min). The biochar ability to influence microbial processes in soil was determined by respiration and nitrification tests. There were no significant differences between basal respiration of control samples and biochar-amended samples. Basal respiration in the Valečov soil reached average amounts from 1.32 to 1.52 mg CO₂/h/100 g. In the Čistá soil, basal respiration reached average amounts from 1.40 to 1.49 mg CO₂/h/100 g. No significant differences were proved also in nitrification tests of both soils. Nitrifying potential was the highest in 3% rate of biochar amendment. There were no negative changes in the measured soil parameters. CO₂ efflux was not higher in biochar-amended soil.

Sunflower serves as a valuable rotational crop, suitable for snack processing or sunflower seed oil extraction, proving to be a lucrative cash crop. To address sunflower yield uncertainties, this study employs meta-analysis to examine the impact of fertilisation. Utilising 41 studies and 392 pairs of observations based on four criteria, we found an overall 27% increase in sunflower yield with fertiliser application. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) individually applied raised yield by 23.37, 20.92, and 11.63%, respectively. Combined fertilisers (NP, NK, NP, and NPK) enhanced yield by 29.69, 28.40, 17.35, and 41.91%, respectively. Sunflower type minimally affects yield, while planting density significantly influences it. Combining local soil conditions and environmental factors with appropriate planting densities ensures maximum sunflower yield, fostering economic benefits for farmers. This study holds constructive implications for sunflower cultivation in China, contributing to increased yield.

Suaeda schimperi, a halophyte native to the Red Sea’s hyper-arid salt marshes, thrives in its extreme conditions (high salinity, minimal rainfall, and elevated temperatures). However, its adaptive tolerance mechanisms to these harsh conditions remain unclear. Herein, we investigated its growth responses and physiological mechanisms after short (5 days after treatment; DAT) and long-term (15 DAT) exposure to 0, 100, 200, and 400 mmol NaCl. Moderate salinity (200 mmol NaCl) enhanced growth, inducing 103.2% (5 DAT) and 40% (15 DAT) higher leaf biomass and 43.33% and 59.6% higher root biomass, respectively, compared to non-saline conditions. Deviation from moderate salinity reduced growth and disrupted ion balance, lowering K⁺, raising Na⁺, and increasing the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, particularly under high salinity. The moderate salinity-enhanced growth was associated with increased chlorophyll, glycine betaine, glutathione, betacyanin, and betaxanthin, as well as higher antioxidant enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate, and peroxidase) at 5 DAT. At 15 DAT, sugar accumulation and unsaturated fatty acids increased, while malondialdehyde and saturated fatty acids decreased. These findings reveal multiple adaptive strategies that support S. schimperi’s physiological stability under extreme environments and highlight its significance in ecological restoration and breeding salt-tolerant crops under escalating soil salinisation and climate change.

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 defence and human health. Furthermore, AMF promoted the accumulation of essential detoxifying agents, leading to a better redox balance and significantly reducing Sb uptake and translocation by 47%. This dual action not only bolsters the plant’s tolerance to Sb but also enhances its medicinal value by boosting health-promoting bioactive metabolites. These promising findings underscore AMF’s dual role: a powerful tool for phytoremediation and a natural enhancer of phytochemical quality. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide a sustainable, nature-inspired approach to safely cultivate medicinal plants in environments contaminated with heavy metals, underscoring the vital role of plant-microbe interactions in alleviating environmental stresses.

The availability of new sensor technologies, such as thermal and hyperspectral imaging, enables early-stage weed detection and species identification and density estimation, both of which are crucial for effective weed management. Thermal imaging successfully distinguished between dicotyledonous (oilseed rape, pea, Stellaria media, Triplerospermum inodorum, Veronica persica) and monocotyledonous species (barley, wheat, sorghum and Echinochloa crus-galli) except Amaranthus retroflexus, during early growth stages. The most pronounced differences in hyperspectral reflectance occurred at 550 nm, where five distinct plant groups were recognisable (sum of squares = 0.7604, F-value = 105.1). The highest hyperspectral reflectance was recorded for oilseed rape, followed by Stellaria media. The same trend was found for the normalised difference index (NDI), which also showed five distinct groups. These findings indicate that thermography and hyperspectral imaging have strong potential as effective tools for supporting weed detection in precision agriculture; however, further research and field validation are required before routine implementation in agricultural practice.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a superior-quality perennial legume forage crop cultivated in China. However, fertiliser applications and the environmental factors affecting alfalfa yield and quality have not been well documented. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis using a dataset from 105 studies published between 2003 and 2023 to explore the effects of fertiliser application and environmental factors on the yield and quality of alfalfa. The results showed that compared to the non-fertiliser control levels, fertiliser application increased alfalfa yield by 24.61% and improved the quality of alfalfa by increasing crude protein by 11.63% and decreasing acid detergent fibre by 7.69% and neutral detergent fibre by 6.76%. Alfalfa yield and the crude protein effect size increased with increasing altitude but decreased with increasing latitude based on fertiliser application. The acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre effect size were positively correlated with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. In conclusion, applying fertiliser is a productive approach to enhance the yield and grade of alfalfa, but environmental factors have an effect. This study provides comprehensive information on fertiliser applications and environmental factors that affect alfalfa yield and quality. These results provide insight into further improving alfalfa yield and quality and contribute to the development of alfalfa.

This study investigates the benefits of using mine tailings (MT) to improve pea (Pisum sativum L.) growth and productivity on degraded agricultural soils in semi-arid environments. The research aims to evaluate the use of MT as an innovative soil amendment and to determine the optimal dose required to enhance the micronutrient availability of Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe without affecting soil quality. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse pots with three different soil types amended with different MT doses (control and four doses). Soil samples were collected from the Doukkala region, one of the main agricultural areas in Morocco. Pea was grown in pots and monitored for 87 days until maturity. After harvest, soil and plant samples were weighed, measured and analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The experiment found that moderate doses (0.2 g/kg to 1 g/kg) applied to all soil types promoted optimal pea growth by improving plant height, root and above-ground biomass and pod number. Thus, MT can act as a biostimulant. However, nutrient antagonism negatively affected growth at the highest dose (4 g/kg). Bioconcentration and translocation factors indicated efficient micronutrient uptake and biofortification, while heavy metals remained immobilised in roots, effectively eliminating toxicity risks.

Abiotic stressors are the main barriers to successful crop production in this era. The balance of redox and metabolic activities in plants is negatively impacted by abiotic stresses, which ultimately limit the plants’ capacity to grow and develop. The phytohormones are tiny molecules that control how plants grow and develop, as well as how they react to alterations in their environment. Phytohormone, gibberellic acid (GA) has been proven in a number of recent research to increase plants’ ability to withstand abiotic stress. By regulating numerous physio-biochemical and molecular processes, GA plays a crucial part in reducing the perturbations caused by abiotic stresses in plants. Recent findings have shown that GA controls the activity of antioxidant enzymes, stress-responsive genes, photosynthetic machinery, and reduced oxidative damage. Besides, GA has been involved in cross-talk with other phytohormones to regulate abiotic stress in plants. This review summarises the current research on the application of GA and discusses how GA might support crop growth and production in adverse conditions. The interaction of GA with other phytohormones, potential mechanisms for reducing abiotic stress in plants, the disadvantages of employing GA, and its promise for the future are also covered in this review.

Peanut is a plant characterised by belowground fruiting that absorbs nutrients not only through its roots but also through its pods. However, little is currently known regarding the species of bacteria that contribute to nutrient absorption and utilisation in this plant’s pod and root zones. This study examined the effects of root and pod area nitrogen (N) fertiliser application on peanut rhizosphere and geocarposphere microbial communities and functions. Using two peanut cultivars [nodulated Huayu 22 (H) and non-nodulated NN-1 (B)], we applied the following four treatments: no N fertiliser (HT1, BH1); N applied to geocarposphere soil (HT2, BT2); N applied to rhizosphere soil (HT3, BT3), and N applied to both rhizosphere and geocarposphere soil (HT4, BT4). The results revealed that compared with HT1 and BT1, the HT3, HT4, BT3, and BT4 treatments promoted increases in total plant accumulated N of 11.2, 30.1, 38.5, and 9.9%, respectively. Moreover, N input contributed to an increase in the abundance of bacteria colonising the surrounding pods, which differed significantly from bacteria colonising the rhizosphere. Among the top four bacterial phyla detected, we recorded a significant increase in the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes in response to treatments HT2 and HT4, whereas the highest relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were detected in HT3 plants. Regarding cultivar B, we detected increases in the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes in response to the BT2 and BT4 treatments, and in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in BT3 treated soil. The findings of FAPROTAX functional analysis revealed clear differences among the T2, T4, and T3 treatments of two peanut cultivars concerning the functional groups with the highest relative abundances. These findings will make a considerable contribution to enhancing our understanding of the effects of N fertilisation on soil microbial structure and function in the rhizosphere and geocarposphere of peanuts and can provide a basis for identifying beneficial bacteria for promoting N utilisation and yield enhancement.

The influence of spermidine (Spd) on wheat ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, copper (Cu) accumulation and photosynthetic performance under Cu stress was studied. The findings displayed that Cu stress boosted reduced ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents by improving ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS) activities. Nevertheless, Cu stress promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and electrolyte leakage (EL) level, and lowered AsA/dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and GSH/oxidised glutathione (GSSG). Meanwhile, Cu stress promoted Cu accumulation in plant tissues. It declined net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll fluorescence parameter maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) contents, and wheat height and biomass. In this way, Cu stresses limited wheat growth. Compared with Cu stress, Spd plus Cu stress enhanced APX, GR, DHAR, MDHAR, GalLDH and γ-ECS activities to 4.75, 5.14, 3.77, 2.96, 3.24 and 2.83 U/g FW (fresh weight), respectively. This way, Spd further increased AsA and GSH contents to 4.62 and 0.78 µmol/g FW under Cu stress. Meanwhile, Spd increased AsA/DHA to 14.60 and GSH/GSSG to 15.97 and declined MDA content to 11.68 nmol/g FW and EL to 17.00% under Cu stress. Besides, Spd declined Cu content in leaves to 68.8 µg/g DW and roots to 152.9 µg/g DW and respectively increased Pn, Fv/Fm and Chl and Car contents to 15.22 µmol/m2/s, 0.74, 1.55 mg/g FW and 0.38 mg/g FW. In this way, Spd promoted wheat growth under Cu stress. Meanwhile, we found that Spd alone also improved the ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, photosynthetic performance, and wheat growth compared to the control. These results illustrated that Spd mitigated wheat Cu toxicity by reducing Cu accumulation and improving ascorbate and glutathione metabolism and photosynthetic performance. Hence, using Spd will be a good strategy to improve the Cu tolerance of wheat crops in the future.

Rising CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere is a matter of global concern and poses apprehension about how plants will adapt to the changing environment. Various studies have proved that under high CO₂ levels, plant physiology alters and affects plant functioning. However, under elevated CO₂, the stomatal characters and their relation with physiological responses are still not yet clear. To find out these changes in the stomatal parameters at ambient and two elevated CO₂ (550 ppm and 700 ppm) levels, four genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) viz. DHM-117, Harsha, Varun and M-24 were grown in open-top chambers. In the study, it was observed that the stomatal density increased, stomatal size altered, stomatal conductance (g_s) and transpiration rate (T_r) decreased under elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) while photosynthetic rate (Pn), water use efficiency (WUE), yield and biomass, of which especially the reproductive biomass increased. Under eCO₂, stomatal and physiological changes were genotypic and CO₂ concentration specific. Increased stomatal density at eCO₂ was mainly due to increased abaxial stomatal density. The improved P_n and reduced T_r at 550 ppm improved the WUE in the plants, while this response was not observed at 700 ppm. These results elucidate that this C4 crop responded positively to up to 550 ppm of CO₂ concentrations, and beyond this, the impact was minimal.

The impact of precipitations and air temperatures on winter wheat yields was evaluated in a 34-year long- term field trial with mineral and organic fertilization established at two experimental sites with different soil-climatic conditions: Ivanovice na Hané with well fertile soils (degraded Chernozem), higher average year temperatures and lower precipitations; Lukavec situated in Bohemian-Moravian highlands with less fertile soils (Cambisol), lower temperatures and higher precipitations. At both sites, a significant positive effect of used fertilizers was noted from the dose of 80 kg N/ha; the best yields were generally obtained at 120 kg N/ha and 160 kg N/ha. The wheat yields at the Ivanovice site were negatively affected by the decrease of precipitations, namely in more fertilized treatments, particularly farmyard manure + mineral nitrogen, from the dose of 80 kg N/ha. A different trend was obtained at the Lukavec site where better winter wheat yields were obtained under lower precipitations. The air temperatures played a positive role at the Lukavec site, but no significant effect of temperature was observed at the Ivanovice site. The less productive areas in highlands can become more interesting for agriculture production with changing climate. However, the soils generally having lower quality and nutrient content can be a limiting factor for obtaining high yields.

Rice serves as a crucial staple food for nearly half of the world’s population. However, rice paddies contribute remarkably to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Prior studies often showed a trade-off between reducing GHG emissions and impairing rice yield. In this study, we explore the possibility of employing modulating probiotics to develop a win-win strategy for enhancing rice yields while reducing GHG emissions. Three paired plots of rice paddies were used in the field experiment during the spring growing season (from February to July 2022). Each pair of plots was divided into control and probiotic addition paddies to investigate the effects of modulating probiotic treatment on GHG emissions using the whole-plant chambers. Our results revealed notable reductions in GHG emissions and increases in rice yield with the probiotic treatment relative to the control. The probiotic treatment resulted in a 47.58% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, a 21.53% reduction in methane (CH₄) emissions, and an impressive 88.50% reduction in nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions over the growing season. We also observed a 27.75% increase in rice yield with the probiotic treatment. These findings suggest that employing modulating probiotics has the potential to pave the way for mutually beneficial outcomes, enhancing rice productivity while mitigating the GHG emissions associated with rice cultivation.

The aim of this trial was to verify the influence of various autumn-applied nitrogen fertilisers on the growth, yield and quality of winter oilseed rape. In the three years, small-plot field trials were carried out at the Research Station Červený Újezd (50.0697044N, 14.1659086E). The hybrid cultivar DK Exstorm was chosen, with a sowing rate of 50 seeds/m2. Five fertilisation regimes were tested: (1) nitrogen-free control; (2) CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate); (3) ANU (ammonium nitrate urea); (4) U (urea), and (5) US (urea with N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) inhibitor). A uniform dose of 40 kg N/ha was applied at the end of October. Fertilisers U (leaf length, root collar diameter, leaf and root dry weight) and US (number of leaves and root length) had the best growth outcomes. The highest seed yields were obtained with US (5.83 t/ha) and ANU (5.82 t/ha) applications, which outperformed the unfertilised control by 0.65 and 0.64 t/ha, respectively. CAN fertiliser appears to be unsuitable for autumn fertilisation in terms of yield. There were no statistically significant differences in oil content (%) or thousand seed weight (g) between the treatments in any of the experimental years.

When 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (nitrapyrin) is applied alone, it typically does not significantly increase crop yield. Therefore, we combined gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with nitrapyrin to address the limitations of nitrapyrin in enhancing yield. We conducted indoor incubation experiments and pot experiments in Chernozem and Calcic Kastanozem, respectively. The results demonstrated that GABA exerted an influence on the effectiveness of nitrapyrin by altering its degradation rate. In Chernozem, GABA accelerated nitrapyrin degradation, whereas, in Calcic Kastanozem, the results were the opposite. The pot experiment results showed that the combination of nitrapyrin and GABA increased rice total biomass by 5%, grain yield by 18 ± 2%, and plant nitrogen (N) uptake by 9 ± 1% compared to nitrapyrin applied alone. The increase in yield was attributed to the combined effect of nitrapyrin and GABA, which elevated root biomass and leaf area. In contrast, the effect of GABA on yield through altering the degradation rate of nitrapyrin was weaker. Therefore, the combination of nitrapyrin and GABA combined with urea increases rice yields in Chernozem and Calcic Kastanozem. The aim of this endeavour was to foster the development of a novel fertiliser product that offers both favourable agronomic outcomes and environmental benefits.

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) over two growing seasons, one under irrigation and the other under severe natural drought. The results revealed that Trichoderma (ESALQ 1306) significantly increased plant height, biomass, and grain yield, particularly under drought stress, despite lacking a formal recommendation for maize. The cv. DKB360 showed the greatest response, with yield increases of up to 60% compared to untreated controls. Inoculation also improved nutrient uptake, especially nitrogen, highlighting its potential to maintain soil health and fertility. These findings demonstrate that the ESALQ 1306 strain of Trichoderma is a promising soil bioinoculant for agriculture, capable of improving maize performance under both optimal and stressful conditions. However, it is important to emphasise that genotype-specific responses highlight the need to align bioinoculant application with selecting specific cultivars to ensure inoculation success. This insight is crucial for guiding future breeding programs and establishing clear regulatory guidelines for commercialising biological products, fostering sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Selenium (Se) biofortification of soybean sprouts presents a promising approach for enhancing dietary Se intake. However, the physiological mechanisms of Se promoting growth remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of selenite (Na₂SeO₃) at concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 μmol/L on soybean sprout development over 72 h. The results indicated that 5.0 and 7.5 μmol/L Na₂SeO₃ significantly promoted hypocotyl elongation and biomass accumulation. Se predominantly accumulated in the radicle, followed by the hypocotyl and cotyledon. Moderate selenite levels enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase; increased the concentrations of reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid, and free proline; and effectively suppressed the accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, thereby reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and alleviating oxidative stress. Concurrently, amylase and protease activities in cotyledons were stimulated, accelerating the hydrolysis of storage reserves. The resulting increases in soluble sugars, proteins, and free amino acids in the hypocotyl supported its elongation and biomass increase. In contrast, 10 μmol/L Na₂SeO₃ suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities, elevated reactive oxygen species and MDA levels, and inhibited growth. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that moderate Se enhances soybean sprout growth primarily by increasing antioxidant capacity, reducing oxidative stress, and facilitating the mobilisation of storage reserves toward the elongating hypocotyl, thereby revealing key physiological mechanisms for cultivating high-quality, Se-enriched sprouts.

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 were investigated. Extractable P pools mostly significantly correlated with soil pH, texture and amorphous iron oxide content. High and significant correlations were found among most of the extractable soil P pools, except for calcium acetate lactate (CAL)-extractable P. In contrast to previous studies, diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-extractable P employed in our pot experiment did not perform better than other extraction methods in correlating with plant available P and uptake, likely because water availability was not a limiting factor of P diffusion. Plant-available P in the soils investigated in this study was controlled by P quantity (i.e. the amount of adsorbed P) and P intensity (i.e. the soil solution P). We conclude that the advantage of infinite sink extraction methods over equilibrium-based techniques becomes less apparent if P is not strongly intensity-controlled and water availability is not a limiting factor of P diffusion.

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 for eating quality, nutritional quality, or synergistic improvement of yield and comprehensive quality. This study provides a scientific basis for precision K management to help growers balance rice yield with specific quality needs.

Combining phosphorus management with phosphorus-efficient cultivars is an effective strategy for improving rice quality. To investigate their effects on root characteristics and photosynthetic traits, a pot experiment was conducted with two rice cultivars differing in phosphorus efficient: Liangeng 7 (weakly efficient) and Yongyou 2640 (highly efficient). Four phosphorus rates (0, 0.44, 0.88, and 1.32 g/pot, designated as P0, P1, P2, and P3, respectively) were applied. A significant cultivar-phosphorus interaction was observed. Most root traits (the length, dry weight, volume, total absorption area, active absorption area, oxidation activity, and acid phosphatase activity) and photosynthetic traits (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance) initially increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus rates, while the leaf intercellular CO₂ concentration showed the opposite trend. Liangeng 7 performed optimally under P2, whereas Yongyou 2640 reached its peak under P1. Compared with Liangeng 7, Yongyou 2640 exhibited better appearance quality, root traits, and photosynthetic parameters. Correlation analysis showed that root length, root physiological activity and leaf photosynthetic parameters (except intercellular CO₂ concentration) were significantly negatively correlated with chalkiness degree. These findings demonstrate that matching phosphorus supply to cultivar‑specific efficiency optimises root‑photosynthesis synergy, leading to superior grain appearance quality with less phosphorus input.

Biochar plays an important role in agricultural production as it can improve soil fertility, promote nutrient adsorption and enhance plant growth. However, the distribution of biochar in the soil significantly impacts its application effect. In order to investigate the impact of non-uniform biochar distribution on soil nutrient uptake, root shape, peanut development, and the makeup of soil microbial communities, we carried out greenhouse peanut pot studies. This experiment followed a completely randomised design with four treatments, each with three replications. The four treatments were as follows: no biochar application (B0); concentrated biochar application near seeds (B1); relatively concentrated surface application of biochar (B2), and uniformly dispersed application of biochar (B3). The findings demonstrated that, compared to the no-biochar scenario, the aboveground and root nitrogen uptake was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by the B2 treatment, increasing by 42.79% and 51.39%, respectively, compared to the control group. Additionally, it reduced the concentrations of NO₃^–-N and NH₄⁺-N in the soil. The B2 treatment also significantly (P < 0.05) increased the net photosynthetic rate and aboveground dry matter weight, increasing by 196.85% and 53.96%, respectively, compared to the B0 treatment. The B1 and B3 treatments also demonstrated a higher promoting effect. The growth of the root system and the quantity of root nodules were promoted by the addition of biochar. The number of root nodules in the B2 treatment was 72.22% higher than that in the control group. In terms of microbial and bacterial communities, the addition of biochar increased the number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to a certain extent, while the relative abundance of soil bacterial communities showed no significant differences. In general, the non-uniform distribution of biochar in the soil significantly affected peanuts’ vegetative growth and developmental effects. The relatively concentrated surface application of biochar treatments contributes to improving plant nutrient uptake and root system development. This provides a more effective application method for agricultural personnel to apply biochar fertiliser in the future.

The effects of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser prepared by a double coating of sulfur and sodium alginate on peanut growth, nitrogen fertiliser utilisation, and soil microbial community were investigated through peanut pot experiments, with a view to providing a theoretical and practical basis for the development of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser. The results showed that the homemade large granular fertiliser could promote the root development of peanuts, and the root volume increased by 45.10% compared with the uncoated fertiliser at the fruiting stage. At the same time, the soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N content were reduced at the seedling stage and increased at the fruiting stage to achieve the fertiliser’s slow and controlled release effect. A significant contribution to the net photosynthetic rate was made for growth development and yield in the middle and late stages. Pod dry weight was significantly higher at the blooming stage than uncoated fertiliser, 4.8% higher at the fruiting stage, and 22.9% higher in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In terms of microbial bacterial communities, the large granular slow-release fertiliser promoted the diversity of the treated bacterial communities to some extent, with little difference in the relative abundance of soil bacterial communities. These results showed that a one-time application of homemade large granular slow-release fertiliser positively affected peanuts in terms of yield increase, promotion of nitrogen uptake and improved nitrogen utilisation under nitrogen application with urea equivalent, but the overall effect on soil microbial community was small.

In this study, a synergist made of itaconic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid and other active ingredients polymerised was sprayed on the surface of nitrogen (N) fertiliser particles to make synergistic nitrogen fertilisers (SNF). To explore the effect of SNF on N metabolism of wheat in saline-alkaline land, five treatments were set up: CK – ordinary N fertiliser (299.86 kg N/ha); T1 – SNF (299.86 kg N/ha); T2 – SNF (239.89 kg N/ha); T3 – SNF (179.92 kg N/ha); T4 – SNF (119.94 kg N/ha). The aboveground dry weight of wheat, the photosynthetic characteristics of wheat flag leaves, the activity of the N metabolism enzyme of wheat flag leaves, the expression of N transporter-related genes in wheat roots, and the N accumulation and transport of plants were determined. The results showed that the T1 treatment performed the best. During the two years, the N translocation from stems and leaves to spikes of plants at maturity in T1 was 33.18–45.55% higher than that of CK. The N content of wheat spikes was 12.01–12.66% higher than that of CK. The activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthetase and the expression of nitrate transporter gene TaNRT1.1 and ammonium transporter gene TaAMT1.1 were significantly higher than that of CK. The aboveground dry weight of wheat and photosynthetic characteristics of flag leaves were significantly higher than those of CK in T1, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration was significantly lower than that of CK. The application of SNF positively affected N accumulation and transport in wheat, wheat yield, and fertiliser utilisation, as well as reduced N loss in saline-alkaline land.