Muhammad Maqsood’s research while affiliated with University of Agriculture Faisalabad and other places

Soil salinization and sodication pose significant environmental challenges, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, causing land degradation. These abiotic factors, soil salinity, and sodicity critically threaten soil fertility and global crop production. Hence, the reclamation and management of degraded soils are crucial for ensuring worldwide food security. To address this, the development of ecofriendly and effective amendment is crucial for salt-affected soil, where biochar emerges as a versatile and promising amendment for the salt-affected soils. In a controlled pot experiment, cotton stick biochar was combined with gypsum, lime, and farm manure (FM) to grow rice (Oryza sativa L.) on salt-affected soils. The biochar was mixed with gypsum, lime, and FM at rates of 5 and 6 tons per hectare. The findings revealed substantial improvements in rice biomass, chlorophyll content, plant height, and overall growth attributed to the application of biochar in combination with gypsum. Remarkably, the additive application of biochar and gypsum significantly increased the concentration of Ca+Mg in the soil by 39.82% while concurrently decreasing soil electrical conductivity by up to 37.63%. Additionally, biochar application induced a notable 22.61% decrease in soil pH, with the combination of biochar and gypsum at 10 tons per hectare demonstrating the most significant impact among various treatments. The experiment highlights the effectiveness of cotton stick biochar and gypsum combined in boosting rice growth in salt-affected soils. This combination improved soil properties, raising Ca+Mg levels and lowering soil electrical conductivity and pH. These results suggest a promising method for sustainably reclaiming salt-affected soils, role in improving crop productivity and soil health. Further field research can provide valuable insights for addressing soil salinity and sodicity issues in agriculture.

Salt stress has been a serious problem for various agricultural crops including soybean and is regarded as one of the main causes of compromised agricultural productivity all over the world. In the world, 20% of all arable lands and 33% of irrigated areas are already covered with soil salinity. By 2050, the amount of agricultural land is projected to increase by 50% globally. It is therefore inevitable to explore the new avenues that help to mitigate the deteriorative impact of salinity to agricultural productivity for ensuring food security. The goal of the current experiment was to determine how various osmolytes improved the growth of soybean under salt stress. For this research experiment, we conducted a pot experiment to examine the effects of foliar supplementation of different osmoprotectants, i.e., proline and glycine betaine osmolytes on various morphological (shoot length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root), physiological parameters (Chlorophyll contents, RWC, MSI), antioxidant enzymatic activity (SOD, POD, CAT, APX), endogenous level of osmolytes (proline and GB), ionic (Na+, K+), and cessation of damaging lipid peroxidation (H2O2, and MDA) in three soybean genotypes such as Ajmeri, Rawal, and Faisal-Soya under moderate saline stress. Salinity stress reduced the soybean growth by up to 75% and physiological parameters by up to 52%. The salt stress enhanced the indigenous cell contents of proline, glycine betaine, and antioxidant enzymes activity up to two times as compared to control conditions; however, this increase was insufficient to combat the increasing salt stress damages. It also enhanced the process of lipid peroxidation up to three times in all genotypes of soybean. The statistical analysis of our results indicated that supplementation of osmolytes especially 20 mM proline improved the tolerance of soybean plants against salinity stress by enhancing the growth (52%), physiological response (64%), and antioxidant enzymatic activity (24%) and decreasing the degree of lipid peroxidation (29%). The most remarkable results were found in the Ajmeri genotype as compared to other genotypes at 20 mM foliar application of proline. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of exogenous osmolytes especially proline is helpful in enhancing soybean production and alleviating the salt stress effects on soybean. In comparison of genotypes investigated, the Ajmeri genotype showed the most promising outcomes against salinity stress, which supports the preference for using the Ajmeri genotype in salt-stressed conditions.

Major causes of water pollution in the ecosystem are pollutants such as dyes which are noxious. The present study was based on the synthesis of the green nano-biochar composites from cornstalk and green metal oxide resulting in Copper oxide/biochar, Zinc oxide /biochar, Magnesium oxide/biochar, Manganese oxide/biochar, biochar for removal of dyes combined with the constructed wetland (CW). Biochar Augmentation in constructed wetland systems has improved dye removal efficiency to 95% in order of copper oxide/biochar > Magnesium oxide/biochar > Zinc oxide/biochar > Manganese oxide/biochar > biochar > control (without biochar) respectively in wetlands. It has increased the efficiency of pH by maintaining pH 6.9-7.4, while Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal efficiency and Dissolved oxygen (DO) increased with the hydraulic retention time of about 7 days for 10 weeks. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour removal efficiency increased with the hydraulic retention time of 12 days for 2 months and there was a low removal efficiency for total dissolved solids (TDS) from control (10.11%) to Copper oxide /biochar (64.44%) and Electrical conductivity (EC) from control (8%) to Copper oxide /biochar (68%) with the hydraulic retention time of about 7 days for 10 weeks. Colour and chemical oxygen demand removal kinetics followed second and first-order kinetic. A significant growth in the plants were also observed. These results proposed the use of agricultural waste-based biochar as part of a constructed wetland substratum can provide enhanced removal of textile dyes. That can be reused.

Environmental pollution by textile dye-based wastewater raises a vital call for consideration to industrialists and scientists due to its influence on the ecosystem. In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), Manganese dioxide (MnO2), and Magnesium Oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized from Leucaena leucocephala leaves for the removal of Reactive Golden Yellow-145 (RY-145) and Direct Red-31 (DR-31) dyes. The nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Optimization of various operating parameters like initial dye concentration, pH, temperature, contact time, and dose of nanoparticles was investigated. The results showed that Leucaena leucocephala leaf-mediated ZnO, CuO, MnO2, and MgO nanoparticles presented the highest adsorption capacities for RY-145 of 47.50 (mg/g), 65.53(mg/g), 53.62 (mg/g), and 58.72 (mg/g) respectively, with optimized parameter values of pH solution, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and temperature were 3, 75 min, 0.05 g/50 mL, 100 mg/L and 25°C on 124 rpm, correspondingly. DR-31 presented the highest adsorption capacities of 57.08 (mg/g), 83.47(mg/g), 67.36 (mg/g), and 72.53 (mg/g) respectively at optimized parameter values of pH solution, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration and temperature were 2 and 3, 60min, 0.05 g/50 mL, 100 mg/L and 25°C on 124 rpm. The surfactants and electrolytes effects were also scrutinized on dyes' adsorption. The surfactants and electrolytes' existence in the aqueous media reduced the adsorption of dye because of the competition for limited binding sites. The RY-145 and DR-31 adsorbents adsorption efficiencies were found in following order; MgO (65.52% and 83.47%) > MnO2 (58.72% and 72.53%) > CuO (53.62% and 67.36%) > ZnO (47.50% and 57.08%). The adsorption-based dye data were scrutinized using various isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics models. The studies presented that the adsorption processes were well fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetics since correlation coefficient (R²) values ranged from 0.994 to 0.999 and Intraparticle diffusion models correlation coefficient values ranged from 0.88 to 0.97, their values were relatively near the experimental values signify the adsorption kinetics in both dyes. Both dyes adsorption on green nano-adsorbents followed a Langmuir isotherm due to decent correlation coefficient values of 0.999 with value of 59.17 (mg/g), 66.22 (mg/g), 72.99 (mg/g), and 81.30 (mg/g) respectively for DR-31 and 47.62 (mg/g), 53.763 (mg/g), 58.48 (mg/g), and 64.93 (mg/g) for RY-145 with monolayer coverage. RY-145 also followed Temkin and Doubinin Radushkevich's isotherm. The thermodynamics investigations revealed spontaneous dyes adsorption onto MgO and MnO2, ZnO is non-spontaneous in both dyes while CuO is spontaneous in DR-31 and non-spontaneous in RY-145. The maximum desorption of 78–86% was attained using the 0.2 N and 0.4 N NaOH for adsorbed RY-145 and DR-31 dye respectively. The desorption data was favorable as the Leucaena leucocephala leaf-mediated ZnO, CuO, MnO2, and MgO nanoparticles adsorbents were utilized several cycles and have stability This experimental study also determines the potential efficacy of green nano-adsorbents for the removal of dye from the real textile effluent. In addition, a phytotoxicity investigation of used green nano-adsorbents is carried out on the pea seeds, to demonstrate their sustainability from a real environmental point of view. Thus, Because of their promising efficiency, green ZnO, CuO, MnO2, and MgO nanoparticles have the potential to apply for dye adsorption from textile wastewater.

Salinity stress is a major abiotic stress limiting the crop production worldwide. Salt accumulation in root zone and uptake of toxic ions (i.e., Na⁺ and Cl⁻) causes disturbance in water uptake by osmotic stress, oxidative stress, salt injury of roots and specific ion toxicity to the plants reducing the crop growth and production. Silicon (Si) treatment to stressed plants exhibits positive effect on growth, physiology and ionic homeostasis of plants. A study was conducted to check the varietal response of bread wheat genotypes against moderate (75 mM NaCl) and strong (150 mM NaCl) saline conditions in hydroponics and stressed plants were treated with exogenous silicon (2 mM) to evaluate it against saline stress in wheat seedling. Fifty days old wheat seedling showed negative response to saline stress under both levels but when treated with Si, its growth traits, tissue health parameters and ionic homeostasis were improved. Exogenous silicon application improved growth traits shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight upto 75% and tissue health parameter i.e., membrane stability index and relative water contents upto 61% as compared to salinity stress. It improved the ionic homeostasis in wheat seedling by decreasing the Na⁺ uptake upto 43 and 84% and increasing the K⁺ concentration by 26 to 39% respectively under moderate to strong saline conditions. Different genotypes showed different response against salinity and exogenous Silicon application. Faisalabad-08 and Anaj-17 performed best in all growth, physiological and ionic parameters and also ranked as top varieties in Principle component analysis on the basis of salt tolerance index. It was concluded that Faisalabad-08 and Anaj-17 has higher salt tolerance among all wheat genotypes tested, and silicon treatment to stressed plants increases the salt tolerance and improves growth traits, tissue health and ionic homeostasis in all wheat genotypes.

Many agricultural soils fail to supply sufficient boron (B) and phosphorus (P) to growing plants due to their adsorption, precipitation and fixation phenomena. Moreover, the application of individual B sources without a macronutrient fertilizer is impractical owing to the separate handling and poor distribution in the field. The study aimed to develop and compare the efficiency of organically complexed boron-diammonium phosphate (B-DAP) formulations with commercial diammonium phosphate (C-DAP) and boric acid for improving yield and oil content of canola. To prepare 0.5, 1 and 1.5% B-DAP formulations, PGPR-impregnated pressmud containing 1% B (slurry) was coated on C-DAP to achieve slurry to P2O5 ratio as 0.5:1, 1:1 and 1.5:1, respectively. Treatments tested in incubation, pot and field studies were C-DAP130, C-DAP130 + B2.5, and 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% B-DAP; each B-DAP formulation was added to supply 98 and 130 kg P2O5 ha⁻¹. The results of the incubation study depicted that with the application of 1.5% B-DAP130 available P content increased by 51% between 2 and 10 weeks of incubation. Likewise, soils fertilized with B-DAP98 and B-DAP130 had significantly (p < 0.05) higher hot-water extractable B content up to 10th week of incubation. In case of pot and field experiments, 1.5% B-DAP98 was found the most effective for canola as it produced the maximum grain yield under field conditions with 38% escalation compared to C-DAP130 and 16% increase compared to C-DAP130 + B2.5. The application of 1.5% B-DAP98 showed maximum oil content of 48 and 42% under pot and field conditions, respectively. It is concluded that the application of 1.5% B-DAP98 enhanced the canola yield, nutrient uptake and oil content more than C-DAP130 + B2.5.

Nitrogen (N) application to agricultural fields warrants curtailing nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and ammonia (NH3) volatilization for improved use efficiency with a less environmental footprint of N. As a means of mitigating N2O emissions, the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) is well established but the efficacy of NIs in reducing NH3 volatilization is not well understood. The study investigated the efficacy of neem oil, pomegranate leaf extract, and dicyandiamide (DCD) coating on prilled urea for reducing N2O emissions and the trend of NH3 release using static air closed chamber technique in an incubation room. The results showed that all NIs reduced N2O flux in the order of 37%–42% by DCD urea, 19%–34% by neem oil coated urea (NOCUs), and 11%–16% by pomegranate leaf extract coated urea (PLECU). However, over uncoated urea, 43%–54% NH3 flux was increased by DCD, 10%–32% by NOCUs, and significantly the least increase (5%–14%) in NH3 cumulative flux was shown by PLECU. Dicyandiamide significantly reduced N2O flux more than all other treatments, and PLECU showed the least increase in NH3 emission when compared with other coated treatments. Hence, it is suggested that neem oil and pomegranate leaf extract could be used successfully not only for mitigating N2O emission, but also lessen environmental damages in association with managed N intense agriculture. Moreover, research focus on the increase in NH3 volatilization using DCD needs serious attention, especially in alkaline calcareous soils.

PurposeSalinity and drought are the main abiotic stresses which affect agricultural crop production worldwide. Various approaches and beneficial amendments are used to increase crop stress tolerance and production under world prevailing water deficit and saline conditions.Methods Our experiment was planned to assess the beneficial role of silicon under water deficient and natural saline condition for increasing wheat crop growth, yield and production. Four levels of silicic acid i.e. 50 kg ha− 1, 100 kg ha− 1, 150 kg ha− 1 and 200 kg ha− 1 were applied with three irrigation levels i.e. one irrigation, two irrigation and four irrigation in moderately saline soil of ECe 7.34 under field conditions using RCBD split plot experimental design.ResultsDifferent growth (i.e. plant height, no. of tillers, spike length, thousand grain weight, biological yield and grain yield), physiological (i.e. chlorophyll contents, relative water contents, membrane stability index and osmolality), antioxidant activity (i.e. SOD, POD and CAT) and elemental analysis (i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sodium and silicon concentration) were checked in our study. Salinity stress and lower irrigation levels significantly reduced all tested parameters except of osmolality and Na + concentration while antioxidant enzymatic activity remained similar in different levels of irrigation with no silica application i.e. Control. Si fertilization in higher doses i.e. 200 kg ha− 1 increased growth parameters maximum by 61%, physiological parameters by 45%, antioxidant activity by 36% and nutrients concentration by 46% decreasing the osmolality by 26% and Na concentration by 48% in wheat.Conclusions It was concluded that inclusion of Si fertilization in plant nutrition increases wheat crop growth and production by improving plant stress tolerance attributes, nutrients balance and minimizing negative effect of osmotic and oxidative stress under naturally prevailing water deficit saline conditions.