Wheat Growth Research Articles

Influence of Irrigation Schedules and Cow Urine Spray on Density and Dry Biomass of Cynodon dactylon

The study aimed to assess the combined effect of irrigation scheduling and cow urine application on weed dynamics, focusing on the density and dry biomass of Cynodon dactylon in wheat during the rabi seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the research farm of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. A split-plot design was used with three main plots representing different irrigation schedules and seven subplots representing cow urine sprays at various growth stages of wheat and replicated thrice. Each treatment received a total of 4000 liters of cow urine per hectare, applied in equal doses at designated stages. The results revealed that neither irrigation schedules nor cow urine sprays significantly affected Cynodon dactylon density or dry biomass across different growth stages during both years of the study. At 90 DAS, the minimum density was recorded under I1 in the first year and I2 in the second year, while the maximum occurred under I1 in both years. The lowest dry biomass was observed under I3 in the first year and I2 in the second year, whereas the highest dry biomass occurred under I1 across both years. For cow urine treatments, the minimum Cynodon dactylon density was found in C6 during the first year and C2 during the second year, while the maximum density was recorded under C7 in both years. The study concluded that irrigation schedules and cow urine sprays at different wheat growth stages had no significant impact on the density or dry biomass of Cynodon dactylon in either year.

Assessment of various herbicides for weed management and their impact on wheat yield components in rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab, Pakistan

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of herbicides is essential for sustainable weed management. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of selected herbicides in controlling weed populations, their impact on wheat growth parameters, and their overall influence on wheat yield components in a rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab, Pakistan. Four herbicides viz. Atlantis Super, Wheat Star, Focal, and Safner were tested alongside an untreated control, using a randomized complete block design across three locations in Punjab. Key parameters evaluated included weed density, biomass, plant height, tillers per plant, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield. Atlantis Super demonstrated the highest weed control efficiency of 79.6%, followed by Wheat Star (76.4%) and Focal (72.7%). These treatments significantly improved crop yield components, with Atlantis Super achieving the highest grain yield of 5.8 t/ha. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate herbicides for optimal weed suppression and crop productivity. It also recommends integrated weed management strategies to address herbicide resistance and minimize environmental impacts.

GROWTH-STIMULATING ACTIVITY OF NEW BIOCOORDINATION HETEROMETALLIC BIS(CITRATO)GERMANATES (IV) OF WINTER WHEAT

The results of using synthesized and characterized heterometallic chelates using a combination of modern physicochemical methods for studying them are presented for the first time of bis(citrato)germanates(IV): [M(H2O)6][Ge(HCit)2]×nН2О, where M=Mn, n=4 (1); Fe, n=4 (2); Cu, n=1 (3); Zn, n=3 (4) (HCit3- is anion of citric acid) for pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds in field conditions are presented for the first time. It was found that their addition to the mixture with the fungicide increases plants' germination and growth rates at the initial stage of autumn development when wheat especially needs the microelements necessary for biofortification and further crop formation. An increase in yield was recorded compared to the control, which is evidence of the creation of favourable conditions under which the studied bis(citratо)germanates (1-4) are well absorbed as chelate microfertilizers. They contribute to the disclosure of the genetic potential of winter wheat, effectively affect its growth and development, and increase the yield and quality of grain. At certain stages of winter wheat growth, the degree of manifestation of the growth-stimulating activity of compounds (1-4) varies depending on the composition of the complex cation. In the variant of application of [Fe(H2O)6][Ge(HCit)2]×4Н2О (2), field seed germination increased by 10.7%, an increase in the above-ground mass of plants up to 18 cm and the development of the primary root system up to 8.0 cm were recorded. The increase in yield also significantly depended on the variant of seed treatment. The best indicator was characterized by [Cu(H2O)6][Ge(HCit)2]×Н2О (3), which subsequently significantly influenced the formation of winter wheat grain and increased yield by 19.32%. It has been shown that the chemical design of such heterometallic compounds, built from bioactive, non-toxic complex cations and anions, which do not compete with each other for binding to the plant biosystem and jointly contribute to the overall growth-stimulating effect, opens up prospects for the creation of effective new generation drugs that are capable of providing a significant increase in the yield of grain crops

Impact of Various Nitrogenous Fertilizers on Wheat Crop Yield and Growth

Nitrogenous fertilizers have increased crop yield, especially for essential crops such as wheat. This study assessed the effects of different nitrogen fertilizers (Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, Ammonium Sulfate, and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) on wheat growth and yield. This research evaluated the impact of various nitrogen fertilizer types and application rates on essential wheat growth characteristics, such as plant height, tiller count, grain yield, and grain weight. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed for field trials in the growing season, featuring three replicates for each treatment. Fertilizer treatments comprised different application rates of Urea (120, 180, 240 kg/ha), Ammonium Nitrate, Ammonium Sulfate, and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate. The research gathered wheat growth metrics and yield data, which ANOVA examined to identify significant differences among treatments. The findings indicated that Urea (240 kg/ha) resulted in the most significant plant height, tiller count, grain production, and grain weight, significantly surpassing other fertilizer applications. Ammonium Nitrate exhibited comparable beneficial benefits, whereas Ammonium Sulfate and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate showed relatively subdued impacts on wheat productivity. The findings indicated that improving the application of nitrogen fertilizer, specifically Urea, might substantially enhance wheat crop yield and growth, thus promoting more effective agricultural methods. The study emphasized the significance of nitrogen management in wheat cultivation and provided critical insights for enhancing fertilizer utilization efficiency and sustainability. Additional research is required to investigate the long-term impacts of these fertilizers on soil health and environmental impact. Nitrogen fertilizers, especially Urea at 240 kg/ha, significantly enhance wheat growth, yield, and sustainability, necessitating further research on environmental impacts.

Effects of Low-Temperature Stress During Anthesis Stage on Dry Matter Accumulation and Yield of Winter Wheat

Wheat growth is highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and with the intensification of global climate change, low-temperature stress has become more frequent during various growth stages of wheat, severely affecting its growth and reducing wheat yield. An experiment examined the effects of low-temperature (daytime 8:00–20:00/nighttime 20:00–next day 8:00: 16 °C/8 °C, 12 °C/4 °C, 8 °C/0 °C, and 4 °C/−4 °C) and exposure durations (1, 3, and 5 days) on winter wheat yield during the anthesis stage. Compared to exposure duration, temperature was the main factor affecting dry matter accumulation, distribution, and transport. Temperature had an average influence of 79.7%, 57.5%, 61.9%, and 79.0% on dry matter distribution in the stem-sheath, leaf, spike axis+glume, and grain, respectively. It also affected pre-anthesis translocation amount, the contribution of pre-anthesis translocation to grains, post-anthesis accumulation amount, and the contribution of post-anthesis accumulation to grains by 48.3%, 55.1%, 44.2%, and 48.2%, respectively. Conversely, exposure duration mainly influenced grain-filling parameters, with an average effect of 43.8%, 44.0%, 83.3%, and 43.8% on the maximum filling rate, average filling rate, filling rate in the fast-increasing period, and filling rate during the slow growth period, respectively. Low-temperature duration also significantly altered the fast-increasing period, slow growth period, and grain weight per spike by 79.9%, 79.9%, and 51.3%, respectively. Low-temperature stress alters the accumulation and distribution of dry matter in wheat, and the duration of exposure further affects the grain-filling process, ultimately resulting in a decrease in yield.

A Transformer-Based Symmetric Diffusion Segmentation Network for Wheat Growth Monitoring and Yield Counting

A wheat growth and counting analysis model based on instance segmentation is proposed in this study to address the challenges of wheat growth monitoring and yield prediction in high-density agricultural environments. The model integrates the transformer architecture with a symmetric attention mechanism and employs a symmetric diffusion module for precise segmentation and growth measurement of wheat instances. By introducing an aggregated loss function, the model effectively optimizes both segmentation accuracy and growth measurement performance. Experimental results show that the proposed model excels across several evaluation metrics. Specifically, in the segmentation accuracy task, the wheat instance segmentation model using the symmetric attention mechanism achieved a Precision of 0.91, Recall of 0.87, Accuracy of 0.89, mAP@75 of 0.88, and F1-score of 0.89, significantly outperforming other baseline methods. For the growth measurement task, the model’s Precision reached 0.95, Recall was 0.90, Accuracy was 0.93, mAP@75 was 0.92, and F1-score was 0.92, demonstrating a marked advantage in wheat growth monitoring. Finally, this study provides a novel and effective method for precise growth monitoring and yield counting in high-density agricultural environments, offering substantial support for future intelligent agricultural decision-making systems.

Bioprospecting Cold-Adapted Indole Acetic Acid-Producing Bacteria With Multifaceted Plant Growth Promoting Traits for Wheat Growth From Ghulkin Glacier, Pakistan.

Agriculture in high altitude regions is challenged by low temperatures, and the use of chemical fertilizers turned hazardous in the long run. In addition, cost-effective, eco-friendly biofertilizers developed globally are less effective in cold regions due to temperature-sensitive mesophilic homologs. The current study evaluated the potential of a cold-adapted indole acetic acid (IAA)-producing bacterial consortium isolated from Ghulkin glacier, Hunza Valley, Pakistan, to promote the growth of the crop, wheat, under cold stress. Several IAA-producing bacteria were isolated and tested further for siderophore production, zinc-solubilizing activity, phosphate solubilizing activity, ability to utilize 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate and for nitrogen fixation. A microbial consortium was constructed and evaluated for its effectiveness in promoting wheat growth in pot experiments under ambient conditions (2°C-6°C at nighttime and 15°C-20°C at daytime) and with diverse soil and glacial flour matrices. The cold-adapted bacteria showed positive plant growth promoting attributes and with remarkable positive impacts on root length, shoot length, root and shoot fresh, and dry weight in pot trials in both garden soil and the glacial flour. An increase in wheat plant chlorophyll content was also observed in both pot experiments of glacial flour and garden soil. It was concluded that a multistrain bacterial consortium of Nocardiooides zeae GB3, Arthrobacter flavus GA9, and Pseudomonas sp. GB29 may have potential as an efficient biofertilizer for promoting mountainous crops, in the Gilgit Baltistan region, Pakistan.

Impact of Sowing Techniques and Nano Urea Application on Wheat Growth Dynamics, Yield Potential and Economic Viability: A Comprehensive Review

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plays a decisive role in ensuring global food security, making the optimization of its production crucial to satisfy the increasing demands of the population. This review explores the effects of various sowing techniques and the application of nano urea on the growth dynamics, yield potential, and economic aspects of wheat cultivation. It assesses modern sowing practices, including zero tillage, ridge planting, and raised bed planting, focusing on their influence on root development, resource efficiency, and overall crop performance in comparison to conventional methods. The use of nano urea, recognized as a sustainable advancement in plant nutrition, is examined for its effectiveness in nitrogen delivery, its potential to minimize environmental impacts, and its role in improving both grain yield and quality. Research indicates that the combination of innovative sowing techniques with nano urea can markedly affect physiological growth metrics, nutrient absorption, and yield characteristics. Furthermore, the economic viability of these approaches, encompassing reductions in input costs and increases in profitability, is analyzed. This comprehensive review offers critical insights for agronomists and policymakers dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of wheat production in the face of climate challenges and resource limitations.

Effects of novel carrier-based formulations on wheat growth, physiology and yield

Effects of novel carrier-based formulations on wheat growth, physiology and yield

Influence of Phosphorus and Zinc Nutrition on Growth and Yield of Wheat

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2020-21 at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar. The soil of experimental field was loamy sand in texture with neutral in reaction (pH 7.01) and electrical conductivity within safe limit (0.19 dSm-1). The soil was low in organic carbon content (0.39 %), DTPA-extractable Fe (2.59 mg kg-1), DTPA-extractable Mn (4.51 mg kg-1); medium in available P2O5 (41.26 kg ha-1), K2O (162.65 kg ha-1), DTPA– extractable Zn (0.71 mg kg-1) and DTPA– extractable Cu (0.31 mg kg-1). The experiment consisted of two factors each having four levels each of phosphorus (P0–0 kg P2O5 ha-1, P1–30 kg P2O5 ha-1, P2–60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and P3–90 kg P2O5 ha-1) and zinc (Zn0–0 kg Zn ha-1, Zn1–2.5 kg Zn ha-1, Zn2–5.0 kg Zn ha-1 and Zn3–7.5 kg Zn ha-1). Total sixteen treatment combinations were laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept and replicated three times. The results revealed that application of 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P3) and 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 recorded significantly the higher no. of effective tillers/plant, length of ear head, no. of spikelets per ear head and grain and straw yields; which was found at par with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 5.0 kg Zn ha-1. Thus, application of 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 in wheat were optimum doses for obtaining higher productivity, growth parameters.

Impact of Rhizobacterial Strains on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Productivity

A field experiment was carried out at the Arid Zone Research Centre, Dera Ismail Khan, in the 2017–18 growing season.to evaluate This influence regarding the application of rhizobacterial inoculants. Concerning soil properties, root and shoot structure, and wheat productivity. The study followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was implemented with five treatments, including a control and four bacterial inoculants: Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter mori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pseudomonas putida. These microbial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of lentil plants. Crops, identified, as well as used for seed application of microbial inoculants. Various soil, development and productivity metrics were analyzed. These findings revealed that beneficial rhizobacteria (PGPR) had a notable impact on plant height as well as leaf length. Traits such as fresh and dry root weight, root surface area, root extent and root length concentration were notably affected as a result of the applied treatments. Among them, Enterobacter mori (T₂) led to the highest fresh and dry root weight and root area, while Pseudomonas putida (T₄) enhanced root length and root length density. Yield-related parameters, including thousand-grain weight, grain production, and straw output, were also substantially impacted. The maximum grain and straw productivity were recorded in the treatment with Enterobacter asburiae (T₁), whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa (T₃) resulted in the maximum 1000-grain weight. Soil characteristics, including organic matter composition and overall nitrogen levels, and extractable phosphorus showed significant improvement in treatments inoculated with Pseudomonas putida (T₄) and Enterobacter mori (T₂), respectively. Overall, the results suggest that inoculation with Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter mori, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa improves soil nutrient content while enhancing wheat growth and productivity.

Enhancing water productivity and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production through applying different irrigation manners

The availability and quality of irrigation water in Egypt have become major challenges for the agricultural sector. Thus, increasing water productivity and improving irrigation efficiency are critical goals. A field experiment was conducted under Upper Egypt conditions at the El-Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor governorate, Egypt, to evaluate the effects of different irrigation methods traditional furrow irrigation (Ti), surge furrow irrigation (Si), and alternate furrow irrigation (Ai), on water productivity, growth, and yield of wheat in clay loam soil. The wheat cultivar MISR2 (Triticum aestivum L.) was cultivated during the 20/21 and 21/22 growing seasons, using irrigation scheduled after 50% depletion of the soil available water. The results indicated that the treatment of Si produced the greatest plant height (115.0 and 117.7 cm) and grain yield (7.99 and 8.16 t ha⁻¹) for both seasons, respectively. In contrast, the treatment of Ai resulted in the lowest values for these traits (106.4 and 107.2 cm in plant height and 6.94 and 6.24 t ha⁻¹ in grain yield, respectively). The total annual rainfall during the two growing seasons were recorded as 0 mm. The highest amount of irrigation water applied (6522, 6427.2 m3 ha-1) was recorded with the treatment of Ti; while the lowest amount (5493.6, 5175.1 m3 ha-1) was recorded with Ai treatments in 20/21, and 21/22 growing seasons, respectively. The highest irrigation water productivity (1.75 kg m-3 and 1.35 kg m-3 in the first season and 1.44 kg m-3 and 1.20 kg m-3 in the second season under the treatment of Ai and Si, respectively. The treatment of Ai was most effective for saving water, by 15.8% and 19.48% over the two seasons. These results suggesting that an extra irrigation water amount may be saved without any significant loss in yield of wheat when applying Si irrigation method. This research contributes to developing evidence-based irrigation management strategies for improving wheat production in arid regions.

Effect of mustard oilcake integration in organic nutrient management on the performance of wheat during conversion period

An experiment was conducted in the Upper Gangetic Plain zone to study the effects of mustard oilcake (MC) application in combination with farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC) on wheat growth, yield, and economics in organic farming. Results showed that mustard oilcake significantly improved wheat growth, yield attributes, and productivity. Plant height and tiller number increased by 20.1-44.8% and 22.8-64.9%, respectively, compared to the control. Mustard oilcake application also increased spike weight, number of grains per spike, and for MC treatments 1000-grain weight in wheat. Grain yield was highest with inorganic management, followed by mustard oilcake + biofertilizer, and the lowest in control. Mustard oilcake application improved wheat grain yield by 31.0-136.5% compared to the control. The treatment with a 50% recommended dose of nutrients (RDN) through FYM + 50% RDN through MC + biofertilizer showed the highest net return and benefit-cost ratio. Positive correlations were found between different growth and yield parameters of wheat with mustard oilcake application. Results inferred that integrating mustard oilcake with bulky organic manure can be an effective strategy to improve productivity and profitability in organic farming in the Upper Gangetic Plain zone.

Effect of Nano Urea on Growth and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) under Vidarbha Condition

A field experiment was conducted at Wheat Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S.) during rabi season of 2023-24. The soil of experimental site was slightly saline with clay in texture. The experimental design was randomize block design with 10 treatment and replicated thrice. The treatments were T1 - One spray Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at maximum tillering, T2 - Two spray Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at tillering and jointing, T3 -Recommended N (1/3rd basal, 2/3rd CRI – Recommended N), T4 - Recommended N + one spray of Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at tillering, T5 - Recommended N + two spray of Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at tillering and jointing, T6 - Recommended N+ one spray of urea (2%) at tillering, T7 - Recommended N + two spray of urea (2%) at tillering and jointing, T8 - Recommended N + one spray of urea (2%) + Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at tillering, T9 - Recommended N + one spray of urea (2%) +DAP (2%) + Nano urea (4 ml litre-1) at tillering, T10 - Absolute control (No nitrogen). The recommended dose of fertilizers for wheat was 80:40:40 NPK kg ha-1, which was applied in the form of urea, single super phosphate and murate of potash respectively. Growth attributes like plant height, dry matter production per plant, spike length, yield per plant were significantly influenced due to different nitrogen management treatments. Various management treatments significantly influenced the grain yield of wheat. The treatment T7 recorded maximum and significantly higher grain (5098 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5559 kg ha-1) which was at par with the treatments T3, T4, T5, T6, T8 and T9. The maximum values for growth and yield attributes with economics were found in treatment T7 which is at par with T3, T4, T5, T6, T8 and T9 in all treatments.

Integrated plant nutrition system influences the productivity of wheat–aus rice– aman rice cropping pattern in the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain of Bangladesh

Integrated nutrient management maximizes energy efficiency, improves soil health, and enhances crop yield. The experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) in Nashipur, Bangladesh, over three consecutive years: 2017–20. The main aim of this study was to determine the optimal combination of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers required to improve wheat growth and yield while maintaining soil fertility sustainably. Seven treatments were utilized in the study: T1, chemical fertilizers formulated according to soil test results (STB); T2, integrated plant nutrition systems (IPNS) utilizing 5 t/ha of cow manure (based on T1); T3, IPNS (1.0 t/ha) combined with vermicompost (derived from T1); T4, (IPNS utilizing 2.0 t/ha of vermicompost on T1); T5, IPNS - 4.0 t/ha of vermicompost in conjunction with T1; T6, IPNS utilizing 0.750 t/ha of Farha in comparison to T1, and T7, indigenous reproductive capacity (control). The application of vermicompost and other organic fertilizers significantly improved the yields of wheat, T. Aus, and T. Aman rice across the three cropping seasons. Treatment T3 was deemed the most effective, producing the highest rice equivalent of 18.28 t/ha, followed by T2 and T4. The control treatment resulted in the lowest yields. The gross margin is largest in the case of Tk. The T2 utilized 5 t/ha cow dung, yielded a gross margin of Tk. 246,477 /ha, which was the second-highest amount recorded. The maximum density of 239,242 per ha was recorded in T3 (1 t/ha of vermicompost). The increased effectiveness of organic treatments is associated with increased soil health due to improvements in the physical and chemical properties of the soil. To increase soil fertility and production, a combination of 5 t/ha cow dung, 1 t/ha vermicompost, and STB chemical fertilizers is recommended to increase crop output.

Enhancing wheat growth under chromium toxicity using gibberellic acid and microbial inoculants as modulating agents

Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic heavy metal that can negatively impact crop yield and food quality by causing chlorosis and reduced root and shoot growth. To address this issue, rhizobacteria has emerged as a viable and safe technology. Additionally, gibberellins (GA3) can act as allied factors for regulating various physiological processes in plants, particularly cell division and elongation under Cr stress. That’s why the current study aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) application and biofertilizer (Agrobacterium fabrum) in alleviating chromium toxicity in wheat. The treatments included two concentrations of chromium (Cr): 300Cr (300 mg Cr/kg soil) and 600Cr (600 mg Cr/kg soil), as well as the application of gibberellic acid (GA3 = 5 mg/L solution) with and without biofertilizer, i.e., A. fabrum. Results showed that the addition of GA3 + A. fabrum showed a significant increase in shoot fresh weight (~ 13%), shoot dry weight (~ 90%), root fresh weight (~ 76%), root dry weight (~ 88%), root length (~ 39%), shoot length (~ 18%) over control (no GA3 and No A. fabrum). In conclusion, GA3 + A. Farum is a better treatment for mitigating Cr toxicity in soil. More investigations are suggested at field levels under different cereal crops to declare GA3 + A. fabrum as the best treatment for alleviating Cr adverse effects on crops. Future research should focus on field-level investigations across cereal crops to validate GA3 + A. fabrum as the best treatment for alleviating Cr adverse effects on different crops and exploring its potential for integration into sustainable agricultural practices.

Evaluating Beauveria bassiana Strains for Insect Pest Control and Endophytic Colonization in Wheat.

Certain entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana, are highly pathogenic to arthropod pests and are able to colonize plant tissues, thereby enhancing both plant growth and disease resistance. This study assessed three B. bassiana strains (CBM1, CBM2, and CBM3) for their pathogenicity toward insect larvae and colonization potential in wheat. The insecticidal activity of the fungi against the larvae of the major lepidopteran pests Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera frugiperda, Mythimna separata, and Plutella xylostella was determined. The fungi were then applied to wheat plants using seed immersion and soil drench methods; their colonization rates were compared, and the impacts of fungal colonization on wheat growth and survival were evaluated. The results demonstrated that all three strains were effective in reducing insect damage, with B. bassiana CBM1 exhibiting the highest pathogenicity followed by CBM3 and CBM2. B. bassiana CBM1 was particularly effective, with a significantly higher colonization rate achieved through soil drenching compared to seed immersion. The soil inoculation of B. bassiana resulted in increased plant height at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and root length at 15 DAS compared to the control group. B. bassiana CBM1-colonized wheat increased the mortality of fall armyworm. This research has enriched the biological control microbial resource pool and highlights the potential of B. bassiana in integrated pest management strategies.

Earth observation reveals reduced winter wheat growth and the importance of plant available water during drought

Abstract. Drought poses increasing challenges to global food production. Knowledge about the influence of drought on crop development and the role of soil properties for crop drought severity is important in drought risk analysis and for mitigating drought impacts at the landscape level. Here, we tested if satellite images from Sentinel-2 could be used to assess the impacts of drought on crop development and the influence of soil properties on crop drought responses at the landscape scale and what the responses were. As a case study, we assessed winter wheat growth on 13 fields belonging to commercial farmers in southern Sweden in a dry year (2018) and in a year with normal weather conditions (2021). To track crop growth, the green leaf area index (GLAI) was estimated from satellite imagery using a radiative transfer model. Proxies for winter wheat growth rate, peak GLAI, and the timing of peak GLAI were derived from the GLAI development at the single-field level. We then compared the crop growth proxies between the 2 years and related the year-to-year differences between fields to measured soil properties. We found lower estimated growth rates, lower peak GLAI, and earlier peak GLAI in the dry year compared to the year with normal weather conditions. A higher peak GLAI in the dry year was related to a higher growth rate, and this was not shown in the year with normal precipitation. Differences in crop development between years were large for some fields but small for other fields, suggesting that soil properties play a role in crop response to drought. We found that fields with a higher plant available water capacity had a higher growth rate in the dry year and smaller relative differences in growth rate between the 2 years. This shows the importance of soils in mitigating drought conditions, which will likely become more relevant in an increasingly drier climate. Our case study demonstrates that satellite-derived crop growth proxies can identify crop responses to drought events and that satellite imagery can be used to discover impacts of soil properties on crop development at scales relevant to commercial farming.

Enhancing wheat resilience: biotechnological advances in combating heat stress and environmental challenges.

Climate change, with its increasing temperatures, is significantly disrupting global agricultural systems, and wheat, a key cereal crop faces severe challenges. Heat stress has emerged as a critical threat, accelerating wheat growth, leading to premature maturation, reduced grain filling, and ultimately lower yields. The situation is exacerbated by more frequent and intense heat waves, particularly in regions already struggling with water scarcity. Maintaining the delicate balance of temperature and water necessary for optimal wheat production is becoming challenging, posing a serious risk to global food security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop adaptive strategies with innovations in breeding and transgenic technologies crucial to improving wheat resilience to environmental stresses, especially to combat the growing impacts of heat stress. Modern tools like CRISPR/Cas9, Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases, and Zinc Finger Nucleases have been instrumental in developing wheat varieties with improved traits. However, the future of wheat cultivation requires more than just resistance to a single stressor. As climate change intensifies, there is an urgent need for wheat varieties that can withstand multiple stresses, including heat, drought, and pests. Developing these multi-stress-tolerant cultivars is crucial for ensuring food security in a rapidly changing climate.

Evaluation of Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Northeastern Part of Rajasthan, India

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2023-24 to study the effect of organic and natural farming nutrient sources on growth and productivity of wheat. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and thrice in replication viz., 100% RDN through chemical fertilizer, 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake, 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake + NP consortium, 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha), 50% RDN + 50% N through neem cake, 50% RDN +50% N through neem cake + NP consortium, 50% RDN + 50% N through neem cake + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha), 50% RDN + 50% N through neem cake + NP consortium + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha), 50% RDN + NP consortium + jeevamrut (500 lit/ha) and NP consortium + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha). The results showed that application of 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha) recorded significantly higher growth attributes, yield attributes and yield, and economics. The maximum grain and straw yield (6280 and 8854 kg/ha) was registered by application of 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha) which was statistically at par with application of application of 100% RDN through chemical fertilizer, 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake + NP consortium and 75% RDN + 25% N through neem cake as compared to NP consortium + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha) (3885 and 3775 kg/ha) and 50% RDN + 50% N through neem cake + NP consortium + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha), 50% RDN + 50% N through neem cake + Jeevamrut (500 lit/ha) and 50% RDN +50% N through neem cake + NP consortium.