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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Wheat Biofortification
for Iron (Fe) Using Vermicompst
and Biochar along with Fe Application
1
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
2
Department of Plant Protection, Ghazi University, Pakistan
3
Department of Horticulture, Ghazi University, Pakistan
4
Department of Botany, Sargodha University, Pakistan
5
Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif City, Saudi Arabia
6
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-04-11
Final revision date: 2024-06-27
Acceptance date: 2024-09-09
Online publication date: 2024-12-20
Publication date: 2025-11-04
Corresponding author
Saqib Bashir
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(6):7265-7271
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Iron-biofortification is a sustainable method of addressing iron (Fe) deficiency in crops by increasing
iron content and bioavailability under alkaline conditions. In this regard, the management of Fe-deficient
soil is becoming a serious matter of concern for soil health and the food web. The current research was
carried out to investigate the possible impact of vermicompost (VC) and biochar (BC) along with iron
(Fe) for improving the Fe fortification in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in alkaline soil. The wheat
genotype “Fakher-e-Bakkhr” was used as a test plant. The findings showed the highest variations
among all the measured parameters. The use of Fe along with VC and BC significantly improved plant
height, root length, root and shoot weight, number of leaves, and overall plant biomass of wheat crop.
A greater increment was noticed in available Fe in soil when VC, BC, and VC+BC along with Fe were
applied in alkaline soil by 31.4%, 36.4%, and 41.5%, respectively, over control. Additionally, Fe contents
in plants were increased by 16.5%, 22.6%, and 25.1% when VC, BC, and VC+BC along with Fe were
applied in alkaline soil. Similarly, maximum increases in soil OM, available P, and K by 53%, 21.9%,
and 19% were recorded when VC+BC+Fe was added in combined form relative to control. This study
indicated that using organic amendments like BC and VC along with iron can have the potential to
improve the bioavailability of iron and enhance wheat nutritional quality, thereby enhancing the Fe
fortification in wheat under alkaline conditions.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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