About the Journal
In Memory of Professor Jerzy Radecki
Editorial Office
Editorial Board
Scope
Impact Factor
Indexed in...
Journal Impact Factor contributing items
Contact
Subscription
Current issue
Online first
Notes to Authors
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial policies
PJOES Publication Policy Overview
PJOES Peer Review Policy
PJOES Research Ethics and Malpractice Policy
PJOES Plagiarism Policy
PJOES Conflict of Interest Policy
PJOES Open Access Policy
PJOES Instructions for Reviewers
Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy
Archive
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Optimizing Sunflower Growth,
Nutrient Assimilation, and Biochemical
Attributes under Salinity Stress Using
a Combination of Sulfur-Treated Biochar
and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
1
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
2
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
3
MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River,
College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
4
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Slovenia
5
National Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
6
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
7
Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad
(Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University Bareilly)-Uttar Pradesh, 244001, India
8
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, and Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and
Manage¬ment of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-03-23
Final revision date: 2024-05-14
Acceptance date: 2024-06-05
Online publication date: 2024-09-04
Publication date: 2025-05-09
Corresponding author
Muhammad Ikram
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science’s and Technology Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
Ismail Khan
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, and Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Manage¬ment of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, and Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Manage¬ment of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(4):4221-4234
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Soil salinity is a major issue that lowers the crop yield. Biochar is an organic amendment to the soil
that mitigates the drastic effects of salinity. However, high pH is a problem in arid and semi-arid
regions due to the use of biochar. Hence, the sulfur-treated biochar covers this problem to some extent.
Furthermore, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae also helps to cope with stressful environments. A limited
study is done for the combined application of these strategies. To investigate this, the sulfur-treated
biochar and AMF are evaluated for their individual and combined effects on the growth of sunflower
plants under saline conditions. The study results revealed that the individual effect proved better, but
the combination of BS and AMF showed a remarkable increase in the growth of sunflower plants
in a saline environment. The integrated use of AMF and BS increases the plant agronomic attribute, NPK, and improves gas exchange parameters. The Electrolyte leakage was minimal where integrated
application of AMF and BS was applied. The antioxidants that combat the ROS were found to be lower
at combined application. This study opens a wide avenue for research exploration for the mitigation
of salinity stress in the sunflower crop.
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.
REFERENCES (59)
1.
HASSANI A., AZAPAGIC A., SHOKRI N. Global predictions of primary soil salinization under changing climate in the 21st century. Nature Communications, 12 (1), 6663, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467... PMid:34795219 PMCid:PMC8602669.
2.
SAFDAR H., AMIN A., SHAFIQ Y., ALI A., YASIN R., SHOUKAT A., SARWAR M.I. A review: Impact of salinity on plant growth. Nature and Science, 17 (40), 2019.
3.
WICHERN F., ISLAM M.R., HEMKEMEYER M., WATSON C., JOERGENSEN R.G. Organic amendments alleviate salinity effects on soil microorganisms and mineralisation processes in aerobic and anaerobic paddy rice soils. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4 (30), 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.....
4.
SRITONGON N., SARIN P., THEERAKULPISUT P., RIDDECH N. The effect of salinity on soil chemical characteristics, enzyme activity and bacterial community composition in rice rhizospheres in Northeastern Thailand. Scientific Reports, 12 (1), 20360, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598... PMid:36437295 PMCid:PMC9701763.
5.
PALANSOORIYA K.N., WONG J.T.F., HASHIMOTO Y., HUANG L., RINKLEBE J., CHANG S.X., OK Y.S. Response of microbial communities to biochar-amended soils: a critical review. Biochar, 3 (22), 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773....
6.
KHAN I., CE L., WU Q., XUANMING W., BINHANG Y., ABDUL R., ASIF A.K., JAVID K., WANG L.-X. The residual impact of straw mulch and biochar amendments on grain quality and amino acid contents of rainfed maize crop. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 46 (7), 1283, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/019041....
7.
KHAN I., TARIQ M., ALABBOSH K.F., REHMAN A., JALAL A., KHAN A.A., FAROOQ M., LI G., IQBAL B., AHMAD N., KHAN K.A. Soil microplastics: Impacts on greenhouse gasses emissions, carbon cycling, microbial diversity, and soil characteristics. Applied Soil Ecology, 105343, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apso....
8.
TAHERI M.A.R., ASTARAEI A.R., LAKZIAN A., EMAMI H. Sorbitol and biochar have key roles in microbial and enzymatic activity of saline-sodic and calcareous soil in millet cropping. Rhizosphere, 24 (1), 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhis....
9.
RAMZANI P.M.A., SHAN L., ANJUM S., RONGGUI H., IQBAL M., VIRK Z.A., KAUSAR S. Improved quinoa growth, physiological response, and seed nutritional quality in three soils having different stresses by the application of acidified biochar and compost. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 116 (138), 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plap... PMid:28554146.
10.
AGBNA G.H., DONGLI S., ZHIPENG L., ELSHAIKH N.A., GUANGCHENG S., TIMM L.C. Effects of deficit irrigation and biochar addition on the growth, yield, and quality of tomato. Scientia Horticulturae, 222 (101), 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scie....
11.
BAMMINGER C., POLL C., SIXT C., HÖGY P., WÜST D., KANDELER E., MARHAN S. Short-term response of soil microorganisms to biochar addition in a temperate agroecosystem under soil warming. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 233 (317), 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee....
12.
HAIDER G., KOYRO H.W., AZAM F., STEFFENS D., MÜLLER C., KAMMANN C. Biochar but not humic acid product amendment affected maize yields via improving plant-soil moisture relations. Plant and Soil, 395 (157), 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104....
13.
CHENG H., JONES D.L., HILL P., BASTAMI M.S., TU C.L. Influence of biochar produced from different pyrolysis temperature on nutrient retention and leaching. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 64 (6), 850, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/036503....
14.
XIAO L., MENG F. Evaluating the effect of biochar on salt leaching and nutrient retention of Yellow River Delta soil. Soil Use and Management, 36 (4), 740, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12....
15.
BACHMANN H.J., BUCHELI T.D., DIEGUEZ-ALONSO A., FABBRI D., KNICKER H., SCHMIDT H.P., ZEHETNER F. Toward the standardization of biochar analysis: the COST action TD1107 interlaboratory comparison. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 64 (2), 513, 2016.
16.
HAFEEZ A., PAN T., TIAN J., CAI K. Modified biochars and their effects on soil quality: a review. Environments, 9 (5), 60, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/enviro....
17.
NGUYEN T.H., PHAM T.H., NGUYEN T.H.T., NGUYEN T.N., NGUYEN M.V., TRAN DINH T., THI V.H.T. Synthesis of iron-modified biochar derived from rice straw and its application to arsenic removal. Journal of Chemistry, 1 (8), 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5....
18.
JANU R., MRLIK V., RIBITSCH D., HOFMAN J., SEDLÁČEK P., BIELSKÁ L., SOJA G. Biochar surface functional groups as affected by biomass feedstock, biochar composition and pyrolysis temperature. Carbon Resources Conversion, 4 (46), 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crco....
19.
ZHANG H., VORONEY R.P., PRICE G.W., WHITE A.J. Sulfur-enriched biochar as a potential soil amendment and fertiliser. Soil Research, 55 (1), 93, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR1525....
20.
EL-SHARKAWY M., EL-NAGGAR A.H., AL-HUQAIL A.A., GHONEIM A.M. Acid-modified biochar impacts on soil properties and biochemical characteristics of crops grown in saline-sodic soils. Sustainability, 14 (13), 8190, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1413....
21.
SAHIN O., TASKIN M.B., KAYA E.C., ATAKOL O.R.H.A.N., EMIR E., INAL A., GUNES A.Y.D.I.N. Effect of acid modification of biochar on nutrient availability and maize growth in a calcareous soil. Soil Use and Management, 33 (3), 447, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12....
22.
PEREIRA S.I., MOREIRA H., ARGYRAS K., CASTRO P.M., MARQUES A.P. Promotion of sunflower growth under saline water irrigation by the inoculation of beneficial microorganisms. Applied Soil Ecology, 105 (47), 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apso....
23.
HUANG Z., LIU Y., TIAN F.P., WU G.L. Soil water availability threshold indicator was determined by using plant physiological responses under drought conditions. Ecological Indicators, 118, 106740, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecol....
24.
ABD EL-MAGEED T.A., RADY M.M., TAHA R.S., ABD EL AZEAM S., SIMPSON C.R., SEMIDA W.M. Effects of integrated use of residual sulfur-enhanced biochar with effective microorganisms on soil properties, plant growth and short-term productivity of Capsicum annuum under salt stress. Scientia Horticulturae, 261, 108930, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scie....
25.
ALOTAIBI M.O., IKRAM M., ALOTAIBI N.M., HUSSAIN G.S., GHONEIM A.M., YOUNIS U., DANISH S. Examining the role of AMF-Biochar in the regulation of spinach growth attributes, nutrients concentrations, and antioxidant enzymes in mitigating drought stress. Plant Stress, 10, 100205, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stre....
26.
HUANG S., HUANG P., HAREEM M., TAHZEEBUL-HASSAN M., YOUNIS U., DAWAR K. Evaluating the hidden potential of deashed biochar in mitigating salinity stress for cultivation of fenugreek. Scientific Report, 14, 141, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598... PMid:38167554 PMCid:PMC10761952.
27.
GUPTA A., BANO A., RAI S., MISHRA R., SINGH M., SHARMA S. Mechanistic insights of plant-microbe interaction towards drought and salinity stress in plants for enhancing the agriculture productivity. Plant Stress, 4, 100073, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stre....
28.
ADIL M., NOOR SHAH A., KHAN A.N., YOUNAS T., SAJID MEHMOOD M., MAHMOOD A. Amelioration of harmful effects of soil salinity on plants through silicon application: a review. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55 (10), 2023. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
29.
BINTI ABD RAHMAN S.N., ABDUL RAZAK M.S.F., BIN B., OTHMAN M.R., ABD RAHIM N.I.B. Screening of Mardi rice accessions for salinity tolerance at seedling stage based on growth performance and molecular analysis. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55 (902), 2023. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
30.
MA Y., HUANG P., HUANG S., YOUNIS U., HUSSAIN G.S., FAHAD S. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and ectoine (ECT) impacts with and without AMF on antioxidants, gas exchange attributes and nutrients of cotton cultivated in salt affected soil. BMC Plant Biology, 23 (476), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870... PMid:37807063 PMCid:PMC10561494.
31.
ABU QAOUD H., ABU ALI I., AL-FARES H., QUBBAJ T., SHTAYA J.Y.M. Effect of salinity on the growth and some morphological traits of pearl millet. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55 (1), 2023. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
32.
KHALIQ M., NAWAZ K., HUSSAIN K., JAVERIA M., IQBAL I., ARSHAD N. Foliar application of sorbitol is a shotgun approach to alleviate the adverse effects of salinity stress on two varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55 (1243), 56, 2023. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
33.
SHEREEN A., ASMA A., SHIRAZI M.U., KHAN M.A., ALI M., ARIF M. Physio-biochemical analysis of salinity tolerance in sodium contrasting rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 54 (787), 94, 2022. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
34.
NAWAZ M.S., SAMI S.A., BANO M., KHAN M.R.Q., ANWAR Z., IJAZ A. Impact of salt stress on cotton. International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences, 12 (98), 103, 2023. https://doi.org/10.47278/journ....
35.
BOUMAAZA B., GACEMI A., BENZOHRANE I.E., BENADA M., BOUDALIA S., BELAIDI H. Impact of salinity on the behavior of fungi. International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences, 11 (139), 47, 2022.
36.
RAZA A., SALEHI H., RAHMAN M.A., ZAHID Z., MADADKAR HAGHJOU M., NAJAFI-KAKAVAND S. Plant hormones and neurotransmitter interactions mediate antioxidant defenses under induced oxidative stress in plants. Frontier Plant Science, 13, 961872, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2... PMid:36176673 PMCid:PMC9514553.
37.
ZAFAR-UL-HYE M., YASEEN R., ABID M., ABBAS M., AHMAD M., RAHI A.A. Rhizobacteria having ACC-deaminase and biogas slurry can mitigate salinity adverse effects in wheat. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 54 (297), 303, 2022. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
38.
IKRAM M., RAUF A., RAO M.J., MAQSOOD M.F.K., BAKHSH M.Z.M., ULLAH M. CRISPR-Cas9 based molecular breeding in crop plants: a review. Molecular Biology Reports, 51 (1), 227, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033... PMid:38281301.
39.
SABAGH A.E., HOSSAIN A., ISLAM M.S., IQBAL M.A., FAHAD S., RATNASEKERA D. Consequences and mitigation strategies of heat stress for sustainability of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) production under the changing climate. In Plant stress physiology, IntechOpen, 2020. https://doi.org/10.5772/intech....
40.
PATEL M.R., PANWAR N.L. Biochar from Agricultural Crop residues: Environmental, Production, and Life Cycle Assessment Overview. Resources, Conservation and Recycling Advances, 200173, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcra....
41.
HAYAT K., KHAN W.M., KHAN M.N., SHAH S.N. Pollen morphological investigation of selected species of family Asteraceae from Pakistan by using light and scanning electron microscopy. Microscopy Research and Technique, 86, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.2... PMid:36876588.
42.
ABBAS N., ZAFAR M., AHMAD M., ALTHOBAITI A.T., RAMADAN M.F., MAKHKAMOV T., GAFFOROV Y., KHAYDAROV K., KABIR M., SULTANA S. Tendril anatomy: a tool for correct identification among Cucurbitaceous taxa. Plants, 11 (23), 3273, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants... PMid:36501313 PMCid:PMC9735582.
43.
LLAURADÓ MAURY G., MÉNDEZ RODRÍGUEZ D., HENDRIX S., ESCALONA ARRANZ J.C., FUNG BOIX Y., PACHECO A.O., GARCÍA DÍAZ J., MORRIS-QUEVEDO H.J., FERRER DUBOIS A., ALEMAN E.I. Antioxidants in plants: A valorization potential emphasizing the need for the conservation of plant biodiversity in Cuba. Antioxidants, 9 (11), 1048, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox... PMid:33121046 PMCid:PMC7693031.
44.
SHAHEEN H., QURESHI R., QASEEM M.F., BRUSCHI P. The fodder grass resources for ruminants: A indigenous treasure of local communities of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan. PloS one, 15 (3), e0224061, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa... PMid:32134935 PMCid:PMC7058357.
45.
MAJEED M., BHATTI K.H., AMJAD M.S., ABBASI A.M., BUSSMANN R.W., NAWAZ F., RASHID A., MEHMOOD A., MAHMOOD M., KHAN W.M. Ethnoveterinary uses of Poaceae in Punjab, Pakistan. PloS one, 15 (11), e0241705, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa... PMid:33142315 PMCid:PMC7608896.
46.
RAHMAN S.U., ULLAH Z., ALI A., AHMAD M., SHER H., SHINWARI Z.K., NAZIR A. Ethnoecological knowledge of wild fodder plant resources of district Buner Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 54 (2), 645, 2022. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
47.
MAROYI A. Traditional uses of wild and tended plants in maintaining ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 18 (1), 17, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002... PMid:35292046 PMCid:PMC8925170.
48.
SINGH K., SHARMA R., SAHARE H. Implications of synthetic chemicals and natural plant extracts in improving vase life of flowers. Scientia Horticulturae, 302 (111), 133, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scie....
49.
IKRAM M., UR REHMAN H., SOYSAL S., AAMIR M., ISLAM M.S., KUMARI A. Impact of climate change on cotton growth and yield. Cotton Production Under Abiotic Stress, 3, 22, 2021.
50.
GEBASHE F., AREMU A.O., GRUZ J., FINNIE J.F., VAN STADEN J. Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity of grasses used in South African traditional medicine. Plants, 9 (3), 371, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants... PMid:32192145 PMCid:PMC7154885.
51.
COTAS J., LEANDRO A., MONTEIRO P., PACHECO D., FIGUEIRINHA A., GONÇALVES A.M., DA SILVA G.J., PEREIRA L. Seaweed phenolics: From extraction to applications. Marine drugs, 18 (8), 384, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/md1808... PMid:32722220 PMCid:PMC7460554.
52.
RAFIQ S., KAUL R., SOFI S., BASHIR N., NAZIR F., NAYIK G.A. Citrus peel as a source of functional ingredient: A review. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 17 (4), 351, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssa....
53.
SHARIFI‐RAD M., VARONI E.M., IRITI M., MARTORELL M., SETZER W.N., DEL MAR CONTRERAS M., SALEHI B., SOLTANI‐NEJAD A., RAJABI S., TAJBAKHSH M. Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review. Phytotherapy Research, 32 (9), 1675, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.61... PMid:29744941.
54.
FEKRI A., TORBATI M., KHOSROWSHAHI A.Y., SHAMLOO H.B., AZADMARD-DAMIRCHI S. Functional effects of phytate-degrading, probiotic lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains isolated from Iranian traditional sourdough on the technological and nutritional properties of whole wheat bread. Food Chemistry, 306, 125620, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.food... PMid:31606627.
55.
SCARANO P., TARTAGLIA M., ZUZOLO D., PRIGIONIERO A., GUARINO C., SCIARRILLO R. Recovery and valorization of bioactive and functional compounds from the discarded of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) mill. fruit peel. Agronomy, 12 (2), 388, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/agrono....
56.
CHENG Z., LU X., LIN F., NAEEM A., LONG C. Ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants used by Dulong people in northwestern Yunnan, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 18 (1), 1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002... PMid:35062974 PMCid:PMC8781162.
57.
BHAT M.N., SINGH B., SURMAL O., SINGH B., SHIVGOTRA V., MUSARELLA C.M. Ethnobotany of the Himalayas: Safeguarding medical practices and traditional uses of Kashmir regions. Biology, 10 (9), 851, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/biolog... PMid:34571728 PMCid:PMC8465354.
58.
MINHAS A., SAEED M.S., EHSAN A., MURTAZA G., AKRAM M., MEHRAN M., SYED R.K.I.A. Response of integrated use of humic acid and chemical fertilizer on growth and yield of rice crop (Oryza sativa L.) in calcareous soil. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 56, 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.30848/PJB20...).
59.
HAFEZ M., MOHAMED A.E., RASHAD M., POPOVA I. The efficiency of application of bacterial and humic preparations to enhance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plant productivity in the arid regions of Egypt. Biotechnology Reports, 29, e00584, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre... PMid:33489786 PMCid:PMC7809392.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
