Salinity is one of the most limiting abiotic stresses in agricultural productivity. Exogenously applied antioxidants successfully enabled salt-stressed plants to cope with stress. Two-season field experiments were conducted consecutively in 2016/17 and 2017/18 to study the effects of foliar applications of singular (ascorbate, AsA; proline, Pro; and glutathione, GSH) or sequential (AsA-Pro-GSH and GSH-Pro-AsA) antioxidants on growth, yield, physio-biochemical attributes, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative defense system of Vicia faba L. (CV. Sakha-1) plants grown under saline soil conditions (EC = 4.53 dS m⁻¹). Under soil salinity conditions, AsA, Pro, or GSH-Pro-ASA improved growth and productivity, photosynthesis efficiency, stomatal conductance (gs), plant water status, as well as enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. However, sequential AsA-Pro-GSH foliar application followed by singular GSH significantly exceeded all other treatments (i.e., AsA, Pro, and GSH-Pro-AsA), improving growth characteristics (shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights, and leaves area), photosynthesis efficiency, stomatal conductance, plant water status, and yield and its components (green pods weight/plant⁻¹, green pods yield/hectare⁻¹, and seed yield/hectare⁻¹), as well as enzymatic (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase) and non-enzymatic (AsA, GSH, Pro, phenolic aglycone, phenolic glycosides) antioxidants compared to control. Overall, our results clearly demonstrate that sequential AsA-Pro-GSH foliar application has a positive effect on salt-stressed Vicia faba plants.

This study investigated the combined effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nano-Zn) and moringa leaf extract (MLE) on squash plants grown under water stress conditions in saline soil during 2021–2022. The research compared full irrigation (100% ETc) with water deficit conditions (60% ETc). While water deficit negatively impacted plant growth, yield, and various physiological parameters, the sequential application of Nano-Zn (at 50 or 100 mg L⁻¹) with MLE (3%) significantly mitigated these adverse effects. The combined treatment proved more effective than individual applications, enhancing growth parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant systems. The treatment particularly improved stress tolerance by increasing protective compounds like soluble sugars and amino acids while reducing harmful H₂O₂ levels. The study concluded that sequential application of 100 mg L⁻¹ Nano-Zn with MLE was optimal for enhancing squash performance under drought stress, with 50 mg L⁻¹ Nano-Zn plus MLE as the second-best option.

AGRICULTURAL sustainability and crop yield are seriously threatened by drought stress, especially in areas with limited water resources. In this study, we investigated the potential of sulfur-enriched biochar (S-ACB) as a soil amendment to mitigate the negative impacts of drought stress on plants (Vicia faba). Our results revealed that deficit irrigation substantially impaired plant water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and nutrient acquisition, ultimately resulting in a decrease in the growth and yield components. However, the incorporation of S-ACB into the soil emerged as a powerful strategy to counteract these detrimental effects. S-ACB played a pivotal role in enhancing plant water status, improving photosynthetic efficiency, and facilitating nutrient uptake. Notably, the positive effects of S-ACB extended beyond mere stress mitigation, as it enabled Vicia faba plants to achieve growth and yield comparable to or even surpassing those of well-irrigated plants. Furthermore, S-ACB application-maintained leaf nutrient status and reduced the Na+/K+ ratio, highlighting its potential to sustain nutrient balance under drought stress conditions. This study highlights the potential use of sulfur-enriched biochar as an efficient and long-lasting soil supplement to increase Vicia faba plants' resistance to drought. The significant improvements in plant water status, photosynthetic efficiency, growth, yield, and nutrient uptake indicate the potential of S-ACB to address the challenges posed by drought stress in agriculture. These findings offer valuable insights into the development of strategies for sustainable crop production in water-scarce environments, emphasizing the importance of biochar as a tool to enhance resilience and productivity

A field study was conducted to study the effects of topography, soil texture and climatic factors on the growth rate of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) in Albaha region, south-western Saudi Arabia. Results indicated that there was no variation observed in soil texture among the studied locations. The maximum amount of rain fall and relative humidity recorded in the study areas was– 28.7 mm and 59%, respectively. Temperature was ranged from 16 – 29.6°C while surface wind speed reached a maximum value of 47 Kts. At the studied locations which had steeper topography and characterized by scattered small, huge and steep Rocky Mountains the elevation was in the range of 1245 – 2052 m while the slope was ranged from 00 to 75. Most of the healthy very green vigorous trees were found in the bed of the Wadi while the stunted ones were scattered on the mountain edges. This indicated that the altitude and slope have remarkable effects on the growth rate of the olive trees.