Salt stress in soils impacts grain crop yield. Soil amendment with biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal alone has been analyzed to improve the growth of several crops under salinity stress. However, the combined application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the remediation of salinity and improvement of crop productivity in wheat are rarely discussed and have remained unclear. Therefore, this experiment was performed to investigate the effect with biochar (150 g biochar per each treated pot containing 3 kg soil) and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (20 g AMF inoculum containing 80% mycorrhizal roots, 100–160 spores, and extraradical hyphae per each treated pot) on the productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under four salt stress gradients; 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl. The results show salinity significantly reduced plant height (9.9% to 22.9%), shoot fresh weight (35.6% to 64.4%), enzymatic activities (34.1% to 39.3%), and photosynthetic pigments—i.e., total chlorophyll contents (75.0%) and carotenoids contents (56.2%) of plants—as compared with control. Under exclusive biochar application, the plants were moderately tolerant to salinity stress, which was evident in their growth, moderately reduced fatty acid content, partially impaired enzymatic activity, and photosynthetic pigments, while under the exclusive AMF application, the wheat plants were relatively sensitive to salinity stress, resulting in impaired growth rate, decreased unsaturated fatty acid composition, enzymatic activity, and photosynthetic pigments. Conversely, under the co-application of biochar and AMF, wheat plants partially increased plant height (14.1%), shoot fresh biomass (75.7%), root fresh biomass (24.9%), partially increased enzymatic activity (49.5%), and unimpaired photosynthetic pigments (30.2% to 54.8%) of wheat under salinity stress. Current findings concluded that exclusive incorporation of biochar, and the synergistic application of AMF and biochar, could be utilized as a promising way to reduce the deleterious effects of salinity stress in wheat production.

This study assessed changes in bio-quality indices and plant available P released during aerobic–thermophilic co-composting of different mix ratios of non-reactive ground phosphate rock (GPR) with poultry and cattle manures.

Utilization of adequate fertilizer rate enhances soil physical and chemical properties, minimizes soil nutrient imbalance, and promotes better crop growth and development. The study investigated the influence of varying rates of chicken manure and NPK fertilizers as it affected growth, nutrient uptake, seed yield, and oil yield of sunflower on nutrient-limiting soil. Field experiments were carried out during 2014 and 2015 planting seasons for both main and residual studies. There were eight treatments comprising four rates of chicken manure (5, 10, 15, and 20 t·ha⁻¹), three rates of NPK (30, 60, and 90 kg·N·ha⁻¹), and control. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Growth, yield, dry matter and proximate, nutrient uptake concentration, and oil content were determined following standard procedures. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, and means were compared with the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) atp≤0.05. Performance of sunflower was superior on the field fertilized with 10 t·ha⁻¹chicken manure which was comparable to 90 kg·N·ha⁻¹NPK fertilizer. Sunflower seed yield and oil quality were superior in plots supplied with 10 t·ha⁻¹chicken manure which was comparable to 60 kg·N·ha⁻¹NPK. Growth, yield, dry matter, and proximate content were least in the unfertilized plots.

Field trials were conducted during 2005 and 2006 planting seasons to investigate the influence of cattle dung and the critical period of weed interference on growth and yield components of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L). Moench]. The study was a factorial trial laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. The main plot comprised of four levels of cattle dung and the sub plots were three regimes of weeding. The growth attributes viz; plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry matter production differed significantly due to different treatments. These attributes increased significantly owing to application of cattle dung which leads to continuous availability of nutrients to the plants as well as appropriate timing of weeding which reduced the influence of weed interference on the okra. Yield and yield components were influenced significantly by application of cattle dung and weeding regimes. Highest fresh fruit yield (102.93 t ha-1) was observed in plots that received 8 t ha-1cattle dung and weeded at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing. Application of 8 t ha-1 of cattle dung as well as weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing significantly enhanced okra growth and fruit yield. However, plots with sub-optimal cattle dung rate and infested with weeds till harvest produced least dry matter and fresh fruit yield.

Application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to marginal soil enhances crop growth but could also serve as source of pollutants into agroecosystem. There is scanty report on bioavailability of potentially toxic element (PTE) and the health risk of consuming popcorn kernel harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. Field trial was carried out in 2017–2019 to evaluate bioavailability of PTEs in kernel of popcorn harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. The trial was conducted at the experimental field of North-West University, Mafikeng campus South Africa. The treatments comprised three rates of MSWC including 0 t/ha (unamended, control), 4 t/ha and 8 t/ha arranged in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. One seed of popcorn was sown at 20 × 70 cm spacing per hole of 3 cm depth in a 6 × 4.2 m plot size. Growth and yield data were collected at maturity. Ears were harvested at maturity and the kernels were dried to 12% moisture content. Air-dried kernels (50 g) samples were collected and analyzed for essential mineral nutrient and some heavy metal(loid)s using ICP-MS. Measured concentrations of these heavy metal(loid)s were then used to calculate the health risk for adults and children. The results showed that uptake concentration was in the order K⁺ > HPO₄²⁻ > Mg⁺² > Ca²⁺ > Fe²⁺ > Cr⁶⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Cu²⁺(mg/kg). Uptake concentration of metalloids: Al and Pd was significantly higher in the unamended. Bioavailability of PTE was highest in unamended plots. The average daily intake of the PTEs was within the recommended permissible level. The risk index value for oral pathway was < 1 for both adult and children population. Amending Ferric Luvisol with 80 t/ha MSWC enhanced popcorn growth and, concentration of accumulated PTEs in kernels at this rate, cannot pose health risk to both adult and children population.

The dietary value of popcorn, an important snack, depends on its proximate and nutritional constituents, while the economic worth is based on popability and expansion traits of the kernels. There is paucity of information on how soil fertility influences or relates with popping potentials as well as quality of popcorn kernel in semi-arid region. Therefore, the proximate composition and popping parameters of popcorn in response to organic and inorganic fertilizers were investigated. The field trial was conducted in 2017-2019, and it comprised five amendment rates including 90 and 180 kg ha^-1 NPK fertilizer and 4 and 8 t ha^-1 compost and unamended treatment as the control. The trial was arranged in randomized complete block design in triplicate. Data on kernel yield, biomass, and harvest index were evaluated. Kernels were analysed for proximate composition and popping indices using standard procedures. Across the two seasons, mean protein (8.1%) and fibre (10.2%) contents were highest in kernels from plots fertilized with NPK at 180 kg ha^-1, while grains from plots fertilized with 8 t ha^-1 compost had the highest moisture (19.3%) and starch (50.1%) contents. The highest kernel expansion of 54.18 cm³ g^-1 and 77.6% popped kernels were obtained in plots fertilized with 4 t ha^-1 compost. Most of the kernels (61%) were small-sized caryopsis. Popability is significantly associated with volume expansion ( ). Proximate components and popability improved greatly in compost-augmented field relative to the unfertilized plots. Application of 4 or 8 t ha^-1 sorted municipal solid waste compost to Luvisol enhanced growth and nutritional quality of popcorn. In view of promoting nutrient cycling towards improving soil fertility without compromising environmental health, compost is comparable and a good alternative to fossil-based mineral fertilizers.