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Securing good feed and sustaining production is one of the main pillars of the livestock production sector. However, this is difficult to achieve in many different environments or circumstances. The production of fodder in a hydroponic system allows for sustainable production throughout the year and provides many benefits to the animal. However, ways must be found to improve the quality of hydroponic fodder and extend its shelf life. In this study, hydroponic barley fodder was produced by mixing it with mung bean seeds at different mixing ratios. In addition, silage was prepared from the resulting fodder by mixing it with barley straw to reduce the high moisture. The results of this study showed that the proportions of the components of nutritional value in the produced fodder were increased, especially the proportion of proteins, when the percentage of mung beans in the mixture was increased. In addition, the preservation of hydroponic fodder using the silage method resulted in obtaining a higher percentage of dry matter compared to fresh fodder and increased the preservation time. This brings many advantages to farmers and livestock producers, as well as researchers in the field, to expand the scope of experiments to other fodder mixtures and the sustainable production of good fodder in hydroponic systems.

The Manchar Lake wetland complex, Pakistan’s largest freshwater-lake, faces unprecedented ecological challenges amidst climate change and human pressures, necessitating urgent, data-driven conservation strategies. This study employs cutting-edge multi-sensor remote sensing techniques to quantify and analyze the dynamic changes in this critical ecosystem from 2015 to 2023, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of wetland dynamics for informed management decisions. Integrating Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, we assessed changes in wetland extent, vegetation health, and land-use patterns using spectral indices and topographic data. Our methodology achieved classification accuracies exceeding 92% across all study years, revealing significant ecosystem fluctuations. Water body extent exhibited a non-linear trend, expanding from 318.5 km² (5%) in 2015 to 397.0 km² (7%) in 2019, before contracting to 369.9 km² (6%) in 2023. This pattern was corroborated by MNDWI values. Concurrently, vegetation covers dramatically increased from 405.5 km² (7%) in 2019 to 1081.6 km² (18%) in 2023. The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) reflected this trend, decreasing from 0.61 in 2015 to 0.41 in 2019, before recovering to 0.53 in 2023. Land use changes were substantial, with agricultural areas increasing from 118.4 km² (2%) in 2015 to 498.0 km² (8%) in 2023. SAR data consistently supported these observations. Topographic analysis, including the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), provided crucial insights into wetland distribution and resilience. This comprehensive analysis highlights the complex interplay between natural processes and human influences shaping the Manchar-Lake ecosystem, underscoring the urgent need for adaptive management strategies in the face of rapid environmental change.

The management of groundwater systems is essential for nations that rely on groundwater as the principal source of communal water supply (e.g., Mohmand District of Pakistan). The work employed Remote Sensing and GIS datasets to ascertain the groundwater recharge zones (GWRZ) in the Mohmand District of Pakistan. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the impact of geology and hydrologic factors on the variability of the GWRZ. The GWRZ was determined by employing weighted overlay analysis on thematic maps derived from datasets about drainage density, slope, geology, rainfall, lineament density, land use/land cover, and soil types. The use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) involves the utilization of the multi-influencing factor (MIF) and analytical hierarchy procedure (AHP) to allocate weights to the selected influencing factors. The MIF data found that very high groundwater recharge spanned 1.20%, high zones covered 40.44%, moderate zones covered 50.81%, and low zones covered 7.54%. In comparison, the AHP technique results suggest that 1.81% of the whole area is very high, 33.26 is high, 55.01% is moderate, and 9.92% has low groundwater potential. The geospatial-assisted multi-influencing factor approach helps increase conceptual knowledge of groundwater resources and evaluate possible groundwater zones.

Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), a vital crop constituting approximately 20% of global caloric intake, faces significant threats from heavy metal contamination, particularly cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr), along with drought stress, jeopardizing global food security. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of these stressors and the potential of plant growth enhancers such as gibberellic acid (GA3), biochar (BC), and rhizobacteria to improve wheat growth. Conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, the experiment utilized a completely randomized design with three replications across 72 pots, each filled with clay loam soil. The experimental layout included 24 treatment combinations involving cadmium stress (6 mg/kg), chromium stress (300 and 600 mg/kg), drought stress simulated at -0.8 MPa soil water potential, and various applications of GA3 (200 mg L − 1 ) and biochar (0.6% and 0.9% w/w). Seedlings of T. aestivum cv. Dilkash-21, treated with Agrobacterium fabrum , showed significant growth metrics, with root lengths of 9.36 cm under 6 mg/kg Cd stress compared to 5.53 cm in controls. The treatment also increased shoot and root fresh weights by 24.7% and 22.5%, respectively, while chlorophyll content peaked at 2.26 mg/g under 6 mg/kg Cd. Additionally, electrolyte leakage decreased to 10.5%, and the vigor index improved to 1586.05 under Cd stress. These findings indicate that utilizing GA3 and biochar can mitigate the adverse effects of environmental stressors on wheat. Future research should focus on the underlying mechanisms of these treatments and explore their application in field conditions to further enhance wheat productivity and resilience against environmental stress.

Green nanomaterials are increasingly used to improve plant growth and phytochemical traits. This study employed Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract, a medicinal plant, as a bio-reductant and capping agent to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), which were applied as seed primers for Lactuca sativa (lettuce), an annual species prized for its short germination time and rich bioactive compounds. Characterization of CuO-NPs using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX confirmed their purity, crystalline structure, and an average particle size of 74.66 nm. The CuO-NPs were applied at concentrations of 0.01 mg/ml, 0.02 mg/ml, 0.03 mg/ml, and 0.04 mg/ml. At the highest concentration (0.04 mg/ml), significant reductions in physical growth parameters were observed, with plant length, height, and width measuring 7.85 cm, 5.50 cm, and 3.48 cm, respectively, compared to 13.70 cm, 11.52 cm, and 11.18 cm in control plants. Phytochemical analysis identified tannins, alkaloids, phytosterols, saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides in all methanolic extracts, while carotenoids were absent at higher concentrations (0.03 mg/ml and 0.04 mg/ml) due to phytotoxicity. FTIR analysis revealed a prominent peak at 858 cm⁻¹ at 0.01 mg/ml, indicating the presence of antioxidant-rich aromatic phenyl compounds. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that CuO-NPs synthesized using Eucalyptus globulus extract enhance phytochemical constituents at optimal concentrations but inhibit growth and reduce key phytochemicals at higher doses. Future research should optimize nanoparticle concentrations to minimize phytotoxicity while maximizing beneficial effects on plant growth and bioactive compounds.

Phytohormones (PHs) play crucial role in regulation of various physiological and biochemical processes that govern plant growth and yield under optimal and stress conditions. The interaction of these PHs is crucial for plant survival under stressful environments as they trigger signaling pathways. Hormonal cross regulation initiate a cascade of reactions which finely tune the physiological processes in plant architecture that help plant to grow under suboptimal growth conditions. Recently, various studies have highlighted the role of PHs such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, and jasmonates in the plant responses toward environmental stresses. The involvement of cytokinins, gibberellins, auxin, and relatively novel PHs such as strigolactones and brassinosteroids in plant growth and development has been documented under normal and stress conditions. The recent identification of the first plant melatonin receptor opened the door to this regulatory molecule being considered a new plant hormone. However, polyamines, which are not considered PHs, have been included in this chapter. Various microbes produce and secrete hormones which helped the plants in nutrient uptake such as N, P, and Fe. Exogenous use of such microbes help plants in correcting nutrient deficiency under abiotic stresses. This chapter focused on the recent developments in the knowledge related to PHs and their involvement in abiotic stresses of anticipation, signaling, cross-talk, and activation of response mechanisms. In view of role of hormones and capability of microbes in producing hormones, we propose the use of hormones and microbes as potential strategy for crop stress management.

Salinity stress adversely affects wheat growth and productivity, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigates the combined impact of ascorbic acid (AsA), silver nanoparticles (NPs), and Salvadora oleoides aqueous leaf extract (LE) on wheat tolerance to salinity stress. A randomized complete design (RCD) was employed with fourteen treatments: T1 (5 mM AsA), T2 (10 mM AsA), T3 (20 ppm AgNPs), T4 (40 ppm AgNPs), T5 (5% S. oleoides LE), T6 (10% S. oleoides LE), T7 (20 ppm AgNPs + 5 mM AsA), T8 (20 ppm AgNPs + 10 mM AsA), T9 (40 ppm AgNPs + 5 mM AsA), T10 (40 ppm AgNPs + 10 mM AsA), T11 (20 ppm AgNPs + 5% S. oleoides LE), T12 (20 ppm AgNPs + 10% S. oleoides LE), T13 (40 ppm AgNPs + 5% S. oleoides LE), and T14 (40 ppm AgNPs + 10% S. oleoides LE). Wheat plants were subjected to salinity stress (SS) and no-stress conditions (NoSS) for 50 days. Chlorophyll content, DPPH activity, total soluble proteins and sugars, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, leaf ion concentrations, and nutrient uptake were analyzed. Under SS, T6 (10% LE) showed the lowest chlorophyll-a (90.04%) and b (57.84%). DPPH activity was highest in NoSS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) at 14.40%, and lowest in SS with T6 (10% LE) at 6.67%. Total soluble proteins and sugars were highest in NoSS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) and T6 (10% LE). In SS, SOD activity peaked with T6 (10% LE) at 8.39 U/mg protein, while CAT activity was highest with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA) at 6.25 U/mg protein. Lipid peroxidation was highest in SS with T6 (10% LE) at 14.67 µM MDA/g fresh weight. Leaf Na and Cl concentrations were highest in SS with T9 (40 ppm NPs + 5 mM AsA), at 14.26% and 44.15%, respectively. The combined application of 40 NPs and 5 AsA (T9) proved most effective in enhancing chlorophyll content and DPPH activity under NoSS, while 10% LE (T6) showed significant improvements in SOD activity and lipid peroxidation mitigation under SS. Future research should explore optimizing treatment concentrations and combinations to further enhance wheat stress tolerance and evaluate long-term effects on crop yield and quality.

Maize ( Zea mays L.) faces significant challenges to its growth and productivity from heavy metal stress, particularly Chromium (Cr) stress, which induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and damages photosynthetic tissues. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fulvic acid (FA) application, via foliar spray or root irrigation, on mitigating chromium stress in maize by evaluating its impact on antioxidant activity and growth parameters. Two maize varieties, P3939 and 30Y87, were subjected to chromium stress (CrCl 3 ·6H 2 O) at concentrations of 300 µM and 100 µM for a duration of 5 weeks. The experiment was conducted in a wire house under natural environmental conditions at the Seed Centre, Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Physiological assessments included electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll pigment content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in maize leaves. Growth parameters were also monitored. The results revealed that chromium stress significantly reduced chlorophyll content and increased oxidative stress, as evidenced by elevated MDA levels and electrolyte leakage. However, FA application notably mitigated these effects: chlorophyll content improved by 15%, and MDA levels decreased significantly. Irrigation with FA was particularly effective, reducing MDA levels by 40% compared to the 300 µM chromium treatment. Furthermore, while chromium stress enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, FA application further boosted total soluble protein levels and antioxidant enzyme activities under stress conditions. In conclusion, FA application demonstrates potential in improving maize tolerance to heavy metal stress by enhancing the antioxidant defense system and preserving photosynthetic pigments. These findings highlight FA’s promise as a practical strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of chromium stress on maize, promoting sustainable agricultural practices in contaminated environments.

This study investigates the synergistic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and melatonin (MT) on Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry) plants under drought stress, focusing on growth, fruit biomass, and stress tolerance. ZnO NPs enhance nutrient uptake and stress resistance, while MT regulates growth hormones and boosts photosynthetic efficiency. Seven treatments were evaluated: T1 (no stress, 0.5 g/L ZnO NPs + 0.1 g/L MT), T2 (no stress, 0.5 g/L ZnO NPs), T3 (no stress, 0.1 g/L MT), T4 (drought stress, no application), T5 (drought stress, 0.5 g/L ZnO NPs + 0.1 g/L MT), T6 (drought stress, 0.5 g/L ZnO NPs), and T7 (drought stress, 0.1 g/L MT). Growth and stress parameters included shoot/root length, fruit biomass, bud number, chlorophyll content, oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂, MDA), and antioxidant enzyme activities in the leaves of Fragaria × ananassa . The combined treatment (ZnO NPs + MT) consistently outperformed others, achieving the highest growth metrics under both conditions: shoot length (22.33 ± 1.53 cm non-stress, 15.00 ± 1.53 cm drought), root length (18.67 ± 1.53 cm non-stress, 12.00 ± 1.53 cm drought), and fruit biomass (9.55 ± 0.31 g non-stress, 5.02 ± 0.23 g drought). Bud formation peaked at 3.33 ± 0.58 buds/plant non-stress and 2.00 ± 0.00 buds/plant drought. Under drought, the combined treatment also enhanced chlorophyll content (2.47 ± 0.20 mg/g FW) and significantly reduced H₂O₂ (28.67 ± 2.52 µmol/g FW) and MDA (4.21 ± 0.10 µmol/g FW) levels, while maximizing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: 121.67 ± 7.64 U/g FW, POD: 206.33 ± 14.84 U/g FW, CAT: 48.00 ± 3.61 U/g FW). These findings highlight the combined application of ZnO NPs and MT as a promising strategy to enhance growth and stress tolerance in strawberry plants, warranting further research on optimized concentrations, delivery methods, and molecular mechanisms.

The accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in leaves reduces photosynthetic capacity by degrading photosynthetic pigments, reducing photosystem II activity, and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Though it was demonstrated that the application of Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) induces heavy metal (HM) stress tolerance in plants, its role in adjusting redox balance and photosynthetic machinery is unclear. In this study, the role of MeJA in modulating photosystem II (PSII) activity and antioxidant defense system was investigated to reduce the toxic effects of Cd on the growth of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) cultivars. One-week-old seedlings of three pea varieties were subjected to Cd stress (0, 50, 100 μm), and MeJA (0, 1, 5, 10 μm) was applied as a foliar spray for 2 weeks. Cadmium stress reduced the growth of all three pea varieties. Cadmium stress decreased photosynthetic pigments [Chl a (58.15%), Chl b (48.97%), total Chl (51.9%) and carotenoids (44.01%)] and efficiency of photosystem II [Fv/Fm (19.52%) and Y(II; 67.67%)], while it substantially increased Cd accumulation along with an increase in ROS (79.09%) and lipid peroxidation (129.28%). However, such adverse effects of Cd stress varied in different pea varieties. Exogenous application of MeJA increased the activity of a battery of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (33.68%), peroxidase (29.75%), and catalase (38.86%)], improved photosynthetic pigments and PSII efficiency. This led to improved growth of pea varieties under Cd stress, such as increased fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots. In addition, improvement in root biomass by MeJA was more significant than that of shoot biomass. Thus, the mitigating effect of MeJA was attributed to its role in cellular redox balance and photosynthetic machinery of pea plants when exposed to Cd stress.