Canola is the second-largest oil seed crop in the world, providing oil mainly composed of long-chain fatty acids (C14 to C20). When mixed with fossil-diesel, canola-based biofuel can be used in passenger vehicles, trucks, or even in aviation. Canola is the most productive type of biofuel due to its oil’s long-chain and unbranched fatty acid composition, which makes it more fluid. However, canola yields are constrained by drought and salinity that can aggravate climate change, resulting in negative consequences. Therefore, it is becoming necessary for studies that involved the canola salt-tolerant genotypes to consider soil salinization by use of saline soil or salinized soil by a non-efficient irrigation method. This study was carried out to assess the effects of salinity on seed germination and the effect of CaCl₂ (ψ_s = −1.2 MPa) on the promotion of regenerated plant memory when a new cycle of stress occurs. Our experiment shows that salt-stressed canola plants resulted in a high reduction in chlorophylls and carotenoids, with a high impact on gas exchange and a reduction in the efficiency of the chloroplast electron chain transporter, producing the negative effect of reduced molecules that affect the membrane integrity. However, canola seed priming could produce a memory in the regenerated plants when the second round of salt stress was applied. This research concludes that canola genotypes appear to have a tolerance mechanism against salt stress which could be an important trait for developing high-yielding canola varieties in future breeding programs under salt stress conditions.

Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split plot arrangement and four replications. Main plots received shallow tillage and deep tillage. Subplots were treated with nitrogen (120 kg ha⁻¹) from farmyard manure (FYM) and urea, including control, 33% FYM + 67% urea (M_U), and 80% FYM + 20% urea (M_F). Acidified hydrochar treatments H₀ (no hydrochar) and H₁ (with hydrochar, 2 t ha⁻¹) were applied to sub-sub plots. Deep tillage significantly increased plant height, biological yield, grain yield, ear length, grains ear⁻¹, thousand-grain weight, and nitrogen content compared to shallow tillage. M_U and M_F improved growth parameters and yield over the control. Hydrochar effects varied; H₁ enhanced yield components and soil properties such as soil organic matter and nitrogen availability compared to H₀. Canonical discriminant analysis linked deep tillage and M_U/M_F nitrogen management with improved yield and soil characteristics. In conclusion, deep tillage combined with integrated nitrogen management enhances maize productivity and soil properties. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate tillage and nitrogen strategies for sustainable maize production along with hydrochar addition. These insights guide policymakers, agronomists, and agricultural extension services in adopting evidence-based strategies for sustainable agriculture, enhancing food production, and mitigating environmental impacts. The implication of this study suggests to undertake long-term application of hydrochar for further clarification and validation.

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, also known as Podophyllum emodi Wall, holds significant ecological, ornamental, and medicinal values. However, it has become endangered due to overexploitation, prolonged seed dormancy, slow natural regeneration, and climate change. This study developed an efficient in vitro protocol for callogenesis and micropropagation of P. hexandrum to conserve germplasm in in vitro conditions. Callus formation from various plant parts, including the leaf, stem, rhizome, radicle, and cotyledon, was induced using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The combination of benzyladenine at 1 mg L⁻¹ and 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid at 3 mg L⁻¹ was optimal for biomass production, yielding 215.88 ± 0.31 mg, with growth per gram at 8.32 ± 0.32 and a growth rate of 13.62 ± 0.25 mg/day on MS medium. For shoot proliferation, benzyladenine (3.5 mg L⁻¹) and naphthalene acetic acid (0.5 mg L⁻¹) combined with activated charcoal showed the highest shoot induction percentage per explant. For shoot regeneration from calluses, 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg L⁻¹) and thidiazuron (2 mg L⁻¹) were most effective, producing superior shoot length, number of regenerations, and regeneration percentage. Root induction was successful with α-naphthalene acetic acid supplementation (0.5 to 1.5 mg L⁻¹) in MS medium, resulting in the highest number per explant (4.08 ± 0.08), length (5.45 ± 0.15 cm), and rooting rate (87.00 ± 1.66%) of roots in plantlets. Subculturing for callus culture was performed every 28 days for up to four subcultures to prevent nutrient depletion and toxic metabolite accumulation, ensuring tissue health and viability. Continuous subculturing of callus on MS medium maintained healthy P. hexandrum germplasm in vitro. Overall, this micropropagation protocol provides a rapid system for conserving P. hexandrum germplasm.

Optimizing cereal production under limited water and nitrogen availability is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluates the effects of three planting densities (D1: low, D2: medium, D3: high) and input levels on the yield, resource use efficiency, and economic performance of three summer cereals: maize, pearl millet, and sorghum. A split-split plot design with three replications was used. Statistical analysis revealed that pearl millet exhibited the highest leaf area under D1 (low planting density) with optimum inputs. It also had the maximum ear/panicle number (35 m⁻²), while D2 (medium density) and D3 (high density) resulted in a higher ear/panicle count. Maize produced the longest (17.1 cm) and heaviest (91 g) ears under D2 planting density. Among the three cereals, maize had the highest grain yield (2695 kg ha⁻¹). Across all planting densities, D2 (medium density) resulted in the highest yield (2434 kg ha⁻¹). Additionally, optimum input levels significantly improved grain yield, reaching 2467 kg ha⁻¹. Water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) varied significantly, with sorghum showing the highest WUE (5.93 kg m⁻²) and maize showing the highest NUE (19.4 kg kg⁻¹). Constrained inputs led to higher NUE (20.1 kg kg⁻¹) and WUE (5.77 kg m⁻²). Quality analysis indicated sorghum had the highest grain protein content (9.4%), while pearl millet showed the highest root and shoot dry weights. Principal component analysis revealed strong associations between specific yield attributes and each cereal, with D2 planting density showing the strongest overall associations. Economic analysis highlighted that sorghum under D2 density with optimum inputs yielded the highest gross return (858.0 USD ha⁻¹), while sorghum at D3 density with constrained inputs achieved the highest net benefit (711.6 USD ha⁻¹) and benefit–cost ratio (5.9). To maximize production, D2 planting density is recommended. Optimizing input management can enhance productivity, while sorghum cultivation under constrained input offers the highest economic returns.

Peach production faces significant pre-harvest challenges, including low moisture, nutrient deficiencies, flower drop, physical damage, and surface discoloration, which can limit yield and fruit quality. To mitigate these issues, the present study hypothesized that foliar applications of silicon and zinc could enhance peach growth, yield, and quality due to their known roles in improving stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant activity. Therefore, this research aimed to identify optimal concentrations of silicon and zinc for quality peach production. Ten-year-old peach trees of uniform size were sprayed with four levels of silicon (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and zinc (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%) for two consecutive growing seasons, at the berry and pit hardening stages, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The averaged data from the two years showed that the pre-harvest foliar application of silicon significantly improved all yield and quality attributes of peaches. The foliar application of silicon at 0.3% notably enhanced fruit growth, yield, and biochemical attributes. Additionally, the highest fruit growth, yield, and quality of peach fruits were observed at the 0.75% zinc concentration. Maximum antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, proline content, and catalase activity were observed in fruits from plants treated with 0.3% silicon, which were statistically on par with 0.2% silicon. However, peroxidase activity was highest at 0.2% silicon. Regarding zinc levels, antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, proline content, and peroxidase activity were highest in fruits treated with 0.75% zinc, while catalase activity was superior when fruits were sprayed with 0.50% zinc. The interaction between silicon and zinc concentrations was found to be non-significant for most parameters, except for titratable acidity, TSS–acid ratio, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, and peroxidase activity. In conclusion, the foliar application of 0.3% silicon and 0.75% zinc independently enhanced all yield and quality characteristics of peaches. For the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar, 0.2% silicon and 0.50% zinc are recommended for optimal peach production.