A field trial was conducted to investigate the productivity of three bread wheat cultivars, namely Giza-168, Shandawel-1, and Misr-2, under different fertilization treatments, i.e., azotobacter inoculation, 25% nitrogen (N) + azotobacter, 50%N + azotobacter, 75%N + azotobacter, and 100%N of the recommended level (180 kg/ha). The treatments were laid in a split-plot design, and each was replicated three times. The findings showed that wheat cultivars examined in the two seasons exhibited significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) in plant height (PH, cm), number of tillers m⁻² (NTM), number of spikelets per spike (NSS), 1000-grain weight (TGW, g), spike length (SL, cm), biological yield (BY, ton ha⁻¹), grain yield (GY, ton ha⁻¹), straw yield (SY, ton ha⁻¹), harvest index (HI, %), protein content (PC, %), days to 50% heading (DTH), and chlorophyll content (CC, SPAD). As a result, Giza-168 had a higher GY (14%), HI (27%), and TGW (10%) than any of the other two cultivars in both growing seasons. Furthermore, Misr-2 exhibited the highest PH (16%), NTM (26%), NSS (28%), SL (10%), BY (30%), SY (46%), and CC (3%). The application of the two treatments of 100%N and N75% + azotobacter exhibited high and statistically similar performance, resulting in an increase in all studied traits by greater than 30–50% compared to the other three treatments. According to the findings of the current investigation, the application of N fertilizer combined with azotobacter increased wheat yield more than either solely azotobacter or N application. We concluded that the application of nitrogen combined with azotobacter reduced the quantity of applied nitrogen by 25%.

The excessive use of chemical phosphorus (P) fertilizer can lower grain yield and P use efficiency (PUE) by aggravating soil acidity. Substituting organic manure for chemical fertilizer can alleviate the problem, although the long-term effect of organic manure incorporation is unknown. We conceptualized that substituting organic manure for chemical fertilizer may result in higher crop yields and PUE. Therefore, the impact of long-term fertilizer treatments: (i) CK (control), (ii) PK (phosphorus and potassium fertilizer), (iii) NP (nitrogen and P fertilizer), (iv) NK fertilizer, (v) NPK fertilizer, and (vi) NPKM (30% NPK fertilizer plus 70% manure) on rice yield, PUE, P uptake, and apparent balance (APB) was investigated. The results showed that rice yield under different fertilizer treatments ranged from 6.2 to 11.8 t ha⁻¹ (1984–1995), 7.9 to 12.7 t ha⁻¹ (1996–2007), and 6.6 to 12.8 t ha⁻¹ (2008–2018). The rice yield under NPKM was greatly improved compared to other treatments, except with that of NPK (1984–1995). Soil organic carbon (SOC), available P and phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC) under NPKM were significantly higher than other treatments during 1984–2018. Soil pH (1984–2018) was greatly higher under CK and NPKM than under other treatments. Soil total P under PK, NP, NPK, and NPKM was significantly higher than under CK and NK (1984–2018). Compared to other treatments, P uptake was significantly higher under NPKM, except with that of NPK (1984–1995 and 2008–2018). The average PUE (1984–2018) was 10.7, 20.2, 36.1, and 44.2 kg kg⁻¹ under PK, NP, NPK, and NPKM, respectively. The APB under NPKM was significantly lower as compared to PK, NP, and NPK treatments. Therefore, we conclude that in addition to improving soil organic carbon, cations inputs from organic manure can be a factor for the increase in soil pH, making organic manure substitution for chemical fertilizer a more efficient strategy for increasing PUE and crop yield.

Study’s Excerpt/Novelty Full Abstract This study examines the efficiency of fungal biosorption and adsorption in removing chromium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions. Aspergillus flavus, a common effluent fungus, was used as the test fungus in this study. The fungus, known for its adaptability to harsh environments, was subjected to batch experiments to assess its chromium removal capabilities. Several variables, including temperature, pH, contact time, and initial chromium concentration, significantly influenced the biosorption and adsorption processes. The results of this study demonstrate that A. flavus effectively removes chromium (VI) ions across a range of concentrations. The optimal pH for removal was identified as 4.0 and 6.0, with maximum % removal (99.96 %) and adsorption (50.42 mg/g) achieved at pH 4.0. Kinetic studies revealed that biosorption and adsorption occur rapidly, reaching equilibrium after 15 minutes (Qt = 159.201 mg/g). The maximum % biosorption and adsorption capacity were determined to be 99.96 % and 723.223 mg/g, respectively. These findings suggest that A. flavus is an efficient biosorbent for chromium (VI) ions, offering a promising solution for reducing chromium concentrations in aqueous solutions. The study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying chromium binding to fungal biomass and emphasizes the significance of optimizing operational parameters to enhance biosorption efficiency. These results advance our knowledge of fungal-based approaches for heavy metal removal from aqueous environments, with potential implications for sustainable water treatment practices. Further research is warranted to investigate the scalability and practical applications of Aspergillus flavus in real-world chromium-contaminated effluent scenarios.