Soil pollution with heavy metal is a serious problem across the globe and is on the rise due to the current intensification of chemical industry. The leather industry is one of them, discharging chromium (Cr) in huge quantities during the process of leather tanning and polluting the nearby land and water resources, resulting in deterioration of plant growth. In this study, the effects of biochar application at the rate of 3% were studied on four maize cultivars, namely NK-8441, P-1543, NK-8711, and FH-985, grown in two different tannery polluted Kasur (K) and Sialkot (S) soils. Maize plants were harvested at vegetative growth and results showed that Cr toxicity adversely not only affected their growth, physiology, and biochemistry, but also accumulated in their tissues. However, the level of Cr toxicity, accumulation, and its influence on maize cultivars varied greatly in both soils. In this pot experiment, biochar application played a crucial role in lessening the Cr toxicity level, resulting in significant increase in plant height, biomass (fresh and dry), leaf area, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, and relative water content (RWC) over treatment set as a control. However, applied biochar significantly decreased the electrolyte leakage (EL), antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, proline content, soluble sugars, and available fraction of Cr in soil as well as Cr (VI and III) concentration in root and shoot tissues of maize plant. In addition to this, maize cultivar differences were also found in relation to their tolerance to Cr toxicity and cultivar P-1543 performed better over other cultivars in both soils. In conclusion, biochar application in tannery polluted soils could be an efficient ecofriendly approach to reduce the Cr toxicity and to promote plant health and growth.

The excessive use of nickel (Ni) in manufacturing and various industries has made Ni a serious pollutant in the past few decades. As a micronutrient, Ni is crucial for plant growth at low concentrations, but at higher concentrations, it can hamper growth. We evaluated the effects of Ni concentrations on nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentrations, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity in rice seedlings grown in hydroponic systems, using different Ni concentrations. A Ni concentration of 200 μM significantly decreased the NO₃⁻ concentration in rice leaves, as well as the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate synthetase (GOGAT), respectively, when compared to the control. By contrast, the NH₄⁺ concentration and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity both increased markedly by 48% and 46%, respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, the activity of most active aminotransferases, including glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), was inhibited by 48% and 36%, respectively, in comparison with the control. The results indicate that Ni toxicity causes the enzymes involved in N assimilation to desynchronize, ultimately negatively impacting the overall plant growth.

Horticultural crops have a special impact on a nation’s economy due to their significance in raising the living standards of farmers. The traditional method for crop protection is becoming ineffective with an increase in climate change effects. Precision Agriculture (PA) presents a solution to this issue through the precise monitoring and forecasting of pests, which improves productivity and guarantees environmental sustainability. The productivity of the existing plant production system can be increased by using precision agriculture techniques. Various PA technologies that enable farmers to monitor the pest include remote sensing, the Internet of Things, geographical information systems, and artificial intelligence. The PA technique assists with pest forecasting and the management of pests and diseases in plants. The content of this article was gathered through a literature review of recent research. The approaches used in PA for pest forecasting, monitoring, and management are the main topic of this study. In the long term, this study will help farmers to manage insect pests in a way that is both affordable and environmentally beneficial.

The ever-increasing world’s population, the consequent heavy demand for food supply, and the lack of rain-fed agriculture to meet such demands have increased the role of irrigation in agricultural production. Water management in the irrigation system is the biggest problem, particularly in regions where the effects of climate change are noticeable. The amount and timing of the crop’s water requirements are under debate. Information about crops, weather, and/or soil is needed for this purpose. Unfortunately, getting such information is difficult, especially when working with enormous tracts of property. Scientists have been working to find the answers to these issues for many years. The use of remote sensing to gather the necessary data is one area that has attracted interest. The advantage of remote sensing is that data collection over vast distances becomes simple and efficient. For the purpose of enhancing sustainability, crop yield, and environmental quality, precision agriculture involves the use of agronomic concepts and innovative technology to control the geographical and temporal variance related to every aspect of agricultural output. Crop water status is monitored in agricultural areas using a variety of remote sensing techniques. It mainly includes remote sensing, crop monitoring in terms of water management, the use of drones, and modern irrigation techniques for the purpose of saving water and increasing water use efficiency in crops. This review is focused on remote sensing technologies for precision irrigation used to calculate evapotranspiration, infrared thermography, crop water status, and crop attributes. The framework for achieving this goal has included precision agriculture as a valuable element. By using these techniques, we can overcome the problem of water shortage, which is crucial for agriculture.

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary study field that attempts to boost agricultural output through substantial nanotechnology. This study has been conducted because of the reckless use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers brought on by the green revolution, which has diminished soil biodiversity and increased disease and insect resistance. Only nanoparticles or nano chips can produce sophisticated biosensors for precision farming and deliver ingredients to plants in a nanoparticle-mediated manner. The precise distribution of nutrients and agrochemicals to plants is made possible by nano-encapsulated versions of conventional fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides. Nanotechnology-based tests for detecting plant viral diseases are also gaining popularity and are useful for making a rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral disorders. The advantages and future uses of nanotechnology in precision agriculture are covered in this article. Modern technologies and methods based on nanotechnology can solve many issues in traditional agriculture and could revolutionize this industry.