The utilization of low-quality water or slightly saline water in sodic-saline soil is a major global conundrum that severely impacts agricultural productivity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semiarid regions with limited freshwater resources. Herein, we proposed an integrated amendment strategy for sodic-saline soil using biochar and/or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Azotobacter chroococcum SARS 10 and Pseudomonas koreensis MG209738) to alleviate the adverse impacts of saline water on the growth, physiology, and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.), as well as the soil properties and nutrient uptake during two successive seasons (2018 and 2019). Our field experiments revealed that the combined application of PGPR and biochar (PGPR + biochar) significantly improved the soil ecosystem and physicochemical properties and K⁺, Ca₂⁺, and Mg₂⁺ contents but reduced the soil exchangeable sodium percentage and Na⁺ content. Likewise, it significantly increased the activity of soil urease (158.14 ± 2.37 and 165.51 ± 3.05 mg NH₄⁺ g⁻¹ dry soil d⁻¹) and dehydrogenase (117.89 ± 1.86 and 121.44 ± 1.00 mg TPF g⁻¹ dry soil d⁻¹) in 2018 and 2019, respectively, upon irrigation with saline water compared with non-treated control. PGPR + biochar supplementation mitigated the hazardous impacts of saline water on maize plants grown in sodic-saline soil better than biochar or PGPR individually (PGPR + biochar > biochar > PGPR). The highest values of leaf area index, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total soluble sugar (TSS), relative water content, K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ of maize plants corresponded to PGPR + biochar treatment. These findings could be guidelines for cultivating not only maize but other cereal crops particularly in salt-affected soil and sodic-saline soil.

Drought stress and nutrient status are highly important for plant growth and productivity. Two field experiments were conducted during two consecutive seasons (2017–2018 and 2018–2019) at El-Molak, Abo-Hammad, Sharkia, Egypt. This work was conducted under sandy soil conditions to evaluate the effects of foliar application with growth regulators (PGRs) such as cycocel (CCC), applied at 0, 500, or 1000 mg L⁻¹, and/or salicylic acid (SA), applied at 0, 0.05, or 0.1 mM on the productivity as well as improving drought tolerance of three wheat cultivars, i.e., Gemmeiza 11, Misr 1, and Giza 171 under three irrigation intervals, i.e., 10, 15, and 20 days. Foliar spray was given at 35 and 50 days after planting (DAP). The obtained results showed that mean squares as a result of the main effect and first- and second-order interactions were significant (p ≤ 0.01) for all studied traits. The application of SA increased total chlorophyll content and flag leaf area (cm²) while the number of days to 50% heading was decreased; however, the number of spikes m⁻², protein and proline contents were increased with the application of CCC. The cultivar Misr 1 outperformed the other cultivars in the most studied traits. Estimates of heritability in the broad sense (h²b) were, on average, higher in five physiological traits than other agronomic traits, and the highest estimate of h²b (95.1%) was shown by the number of days to 50% heading followed by protein content (91.90%). Among the interactions between irrigation and growth regulators, the I₍₁₀₎ × SA_(0.1) recorded the highest flag leaf area (cm²), SPAD value, number of grains spike⁻¹, 1000-grain weight (g), and grain yield (t ha⁻¹). Among the interactions between irrigation and cultivars, the I₍₁₀₎ × Misr 1 recorded the highest flag leaf area (cm²), SPAD value, number of grains spike⁻¹, and grain yield (t ha⁻¹). Among the interactions among irrigation, growth regulators and cultivars, the I₍₁₀₎ × SA_(0.1) × Misr 1 recorded the highest flag leaf area (cm²), number of grains spike⁻¹, 1000-grain weight (g), and grain yield (t ha⁻¹). Correlation coefficient between grain yield (t ha⁻¹) and each of the number of days to 50% heading, flag leaf area, total chlorophyll content, number of spikes m⁻², number of grains spike⁻¹, and 1000-grain weight was positive and significant. Three main factors for the studied variables were created from the application of the factor analysis technique. Grain yield ha⁻¹ (Y) can be predicted by the method of forwarding stepwise through applying the automatic linear regression analysis. Besides, the best prediction equation of grain yield ha⁻¹ (Y) was formulated as: Ỷ = −14.36 + 0.11 number of grains spike⁻¹ (NGS) + 0.09 1000-grain weight (THW) + 0.04 number of spike m⁻² (NSm) + 0.03 days to 50% heading (DF) + 0.02 total chlorophyll content (TC) with adjusted-R² (87.33%).

This study investigates nitrogen and foliar micronutrient applications to Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and their influence on yield and selected yield components. Also, determining the variation of contributions traits with seed yield of Sohag1 sesame variety under studied treatments in newly reclaimed soil condition. The experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications during the 2013 and 2014 growing summer seasons with four nitrogen rates as the main treatment and three rates of foliar micronutrients as sub plots. Results indicated that significant N levels and application of mixture of foliar micronutrients treatments for all studied traits in both seasons. The higher nitrogen rate 80 kg fed-1 (fed.=0.42ha) gave the highest averages for most traits except oil percentage was decreased in higher N level rate. Also, application of 400 g/fed foliar micronutrients led to increase for all studies traits, and the interaction between 80 kg N /fed with 400 g/fed foliar microelement gave the highest means for all studies traits in both seasons except harvest index was 60 kg fed-1 with 400 g/fed in the 1st season and 40 kg fed-1 with 400 g/fed in 2nd season. On the other hand, the highest value of oil percentage was recorded due to the interaction between 20 kg N /fed and 400 g/fed foliar micronutrients. According, the path way analysis of different traits contribute to seed yield per feddan show that the plant height followed by seed yield/plant and harvest index exhibited high positive direct effects, while the number of capsules /plant through weight of capsules and through seed yield /plant followed by seed yield /plant through weight of capsules /plant exhibited high positive the indirect effect.