Beneficial effects of biochar application on mitigating the drought and salinity stress implications on plants

Biochar, an amorphous and highly porous carbonaceous substance derived from the thermal decomposition of organic matter, has been empirically proven to enhance soil water retention capacity, mitigate soil salinity, and augment nutrient bioavailability. Consequently, these improvements exert a stimulating influence on the growth and development of medicinal plants. Numerous scientific investigations have corroborated that the incorporation of biochar into the cultivation of medicinal flora can lead to increased plant biomass, heightened photosynthetic efficiency, and augmented accumulation of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the utilization of biochar exhibits the potential to curtail the necessity for chemical fertilizers, which can otherwise have deleterious effects on soil health and the environment. A comprehensive comprehension of biochar's prospective role as a sustainable, long-term strategy for augmenting the productivity and resilience of medicinal plant cultivation in arid and saline environments holds paramount importance for ensuring a consistent supply of medicinal plants in the forthcoming years. This review aims to delve into the mechanistic foundations underpinning the beneficial impacts of biochar on plant development and the accumulation of bioactive constituents. It also explores the feasibility of biochar as a sustainable instrument for enhancing the cultivation of medicinal plants under adverse environmental conditions

Co-inoculation of rhizobacteria promotes growth, yield, and nutrient contents in soybean and improves soil enzymes and nutrients under drought conditions

Drought stress is the major abiotic factor limiting crop production. Co-inoculating crops with nitrogen fixing bacteria and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improves plant growth and increases drought tolerance in arid or semiarid areas. Soybean is a major source of high-quality protein and oil for humans. It is susceptible to drought stress conditions. The co-inoculation of drought-stressed soybean with nodulating rhizobia and root-colonizing, PGPR improves the root and the shoot growth, formation of nodules, and nitrogen fixation capacity in soybean. The present study was aimed to observe if the co-inoculation of soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.) nodulating with Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 and PGPR Pseudomonas putida NUU8 can enhance drought tolerance, nodulation, plant growth, and nutrient uptake under drought conditions. The results of the study showed that co-inoculation with B. japonicum USDA110 and P. putida NUU8 gave more benefits in nodulation and growth of soybean compared to plants inoculated with B. japonicum USDA110 alone and uninoculated control. Under drought conditions, co-inoculation of B. japonicum USDA 110 and P. putida NUU8 significantly enhanced the root length by 56%, shoot length by 33%, root dry weight by 47%, shoot dry weight by 48%, and nodule number 17% compared to the control under drought-stressed. Co-inoculation with B. japonicum, USDA 110 and P. putida NUU8 significantly enhanced plant and soil nutrients and soil enzymes compared to control under normal and drought stress conditions. The synergistic use of B. japonicum USDA110 and P. putida NUU8 improves plant growth and nodulation of soybean under drought stress conditions. The results suggested that these strains could be used to formulate a consortium of biofertilizers for sustainable production of soybean under drought-stressed field conditions

Mineral Fertilizers Improves the Quality of Turmeric and Soil

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different mineral fertilizers on mineral contents in turmeric rhizomes and soil enzyme activities and soil properties under field conditions in Uzbekistan. The present study is the first report on the impact of mineral fertilizers in turmeric rhizomes and soil enzymes and soil properties in Uzbekistan. The experiment was carried out with four treatments: T1—Control, T2—N75P50K50 kg/ha, T3—N125P100K100 kg/ha, and T4—N100P75K75 + B3Zn6Fe6 kg/ha. Turmeric rhizomes and soil samples were collected from field experiments at the Surkhandarya scientific experimental station of the vegetable, melon crops and potato research institute, Surkhandarya, Uzbekistan. The data showed that T3—the NPK (125:100:100 kg/ha) and T4—the NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) treatments significantly enhanced K content by 27–21%, Ca content by 43–38%, and P content by 54–17% in turmeric rhizomes as compared to control without fertilizer. A maximum of turmeric rhizome microelements content was recorded with T4, which also resulted in improved Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Mo contents in turmeric rhizomes and mineral contents of soil compared to other treatments. This treatment significantly enhanced active P content by 34%, active K content by 25%, total P content by 62%, total K content by 14%, and the activities of soil urease, invertase, catalase, and phosphatase over those in the control. The present study results suggest that the application of NPK + BZnFe (100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) improves macro and micronutrient contents in turmeric rhizomes and activities of soil enzymes and physicochemical properties of soil