Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production
Agriculture problems like drought stress and improper fertilization like overuse of nitrogen fertilizers for maximum productivity are the problem responsible for low yield of crop and environmental pollution. Biochar and slow releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) application in agriculture are the s...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1541123/full |
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| author | Shabir Hussain Mehrab Khan Muhammad Tanveer Altaf Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Alanoud T. Alfagham |
| author_facet | Shabir Hussain Mehrab Khan Muhammad Tanveer Altaf Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Alanoud T. Alfagham |
| author_sort | Shabir Hussain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture problems like drought stress and improper fertilization like overuse of nitrogen fertilizers for maximum productivity are the problem responsible for low yield of crop and environmental pollution. Biochar and slow releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) application in agriculture are the sustainable practices being used for better crop nutrient management strategies, since the well-recognized environmental problem caused by overusing fertilizers. Biochar also used as tools for sustainable way alleviating drought stress. For this, two-year field study was planned with randomized complete block designed (RCBD) and was replicated three time. Treatments included the two irrigation conditions like normal irrigation (CK) and drought stress (DS), two biochar treatments like biochar (BC) and without biochar (WBC); and three application of SRNF like zinc-coated urea (ZCU), sulfur-coated urea (SCU) and non-coated simple urea (SU). Results revealed that drought stress significantly reduced plant height (20.7%), stem diameter (25.6%), and achene yield (25.9%), while increasing antioxidant activity. Biochar mitigated these effects, increasing plant height by 23.2% and achene yield by 12.0% under drought stress. Among SRNFs, ZCU was most effective, improving photosynthetic rate (18.5%), chlorophyll content (12.3%), and achene yield (19.6%) under drought conditions. The combination of biochar and ZCU improved soil health, water retention, and nutrient efficiency, leading to enhanced plant growth and yield. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among treatments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e57b34a9acb40649f6ef54bedad1298 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e57b34a9acb40649f6ef54bedad12982025-08-20T03:15:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-03-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15411231541123Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop productionShabir Hussain0Mehrab Khan1Muhammad Tanveer Altaf2Muhammad Nadeem Shah3Muhammad Nadeem Shah4Muhammad Nadeem Shah5Alanoud T. Alfagham6Institute of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, PakistanInstitute of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, PakistanDepartment of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversity, Pazar, Rize, TürkiyeInstitute of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, PakistanDepartment of Agriculture, Government College University, Lahore, Punjab, PakistanNorth Florida Research and Education Centre (NFREC), University of Florida, Quincy, FL, United StatesDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaAgriculture problems like drought stress and improper fertilization like overuse of nitrogen fertilizers for maximum productivity are the problem responsible for low yield of crop and environmental pollution. Biochar and slow releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) application in agriculture are the sustainable practices being used for better crop nutrient management strategies, since the well-recognized environmental problem caused by overusing fertilizers. Biochar also used as tools for sustainable way alleviating drought stress. For this, two-year field study was planned with randomized complete block designed (RCBD) and was replicated three time. Treatments included the two irrigation conditions like normal irrigation (CK) and drought stress (DS), two biochar treatments like biochar (BC) and without biochar (WBC); and three application of SRNF like zinc-coated urea (ZCU), sulfur-coated urea (SCU) and non-coated simple urea (SU). Results revealed that drought stress significantly reduced plant height (20.7%), stem diameter (25.6%), and achene yield (25.9%), while increasing antioxidant activity. Biochar mitigated these effects, increasing plant height by 23.2% and achene yield by 12.0% under drought stress. Among SRNFs, ZCU was most effective, improving photosynthetic rate (18.5%), chlorophyll content (12.3%), and achene yield (19.6%) under drought conditions. The combination of biochar and ZCU improved soil health, water retention, and nutrient efficiency, leading to enhanced plant growth and yield. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among treatments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1541123/fullsustainable agriculturebiochardrought stressslow-release nitrogen fertilizersantioxidantsreactive oxygen species |
| spellingShingle | Shabir Hussain Mehrab Khan Muhammad Tanveer Altaf Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Muhammad Nadeem Shah Alanoud T. Alfagham Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production Frontiers in Plant Science sustainable agriculture biochar drought stress slow-release nitrogen fertilizers antioxidants reactive oxygen species |
| title | Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| title_full | Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| title_short | Deciphering the morpho-physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow-release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| title_sort | deciphering the morpho physiological and biochemical response of sunflower hybrids with the application of biochar and slow release nitrogen fertilizers under drought stress for sustainable crop production |
| topic | sustainable agriculture biochar drought stress slow-release nitrogen fertilizers antioxidants reactive oxygen species |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1541123/full |
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