The experiment on mung bean (Vigna radiata) in 2023 commenced at the laboratory of the University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq. It aimed to determine the role of trehalose and glutathione in reducing cadmium (Cd) toxicity. The mung bean cuttings served as an experimental material to evaluate the best method of applying trehalose and glutathione in reducing Cd toxicity. Root response, antioxidant defense, and peroxidation were the indicators used. With pre- and post-treatment of trehalose and glutathione and in combination with Cd, significant differences occurred for these treatments. By treating with Cd, trehalose and glutathione were able to remove Cd toxicity and showed an increase in rooting response. By using trehalose and glutathione together in mung bean, and using Cd during the first 24 hours, their effect was inhibitory. However, when treated together with the toxic Cd, the trehalose and glutathione removed the Cd toxicity in mung bean, improved the rooting response, and raised the levels of GSH, ASA, and CAT, and SOD activity. In addition, they decreased the level of MDA and the lipoxygenase activity compared with the control treatment. The study concluded that the combination of trehalose and glutathione showed a promising protection for mung bean plants from Cd toxicity.

Keywords: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), rooting response, antioxidant, glutathione, trehalose, cadmium toxicity.

Key findings: The combined effects of trehalose and glutathione before and after Cd application during the first 24 hours resulted in inhibitory action in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). However, when applied in combination with the toxic Cd, the Cd toxicity vanished, with the rooting system enhanced along with the levels of GSH, ASA, CAT, and SOD.

A field experiment, carried out in 2021-2022, determined the effect of different mineral and nanopotassium fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield traits of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) at the District Al-Rumaytha, Iraq. The experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had a split-plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots consisted of fertilizer application once and twice—first at planting, and the other at the beginning of flowering. The subplots comprised four fertilizer combinations of traditional recommendation and nano-potassium: 75% traditional + 25% nano-potassium, 50% traditional + 50% nano-potassium, 25% traditional + 75% nano-potassium, and nano-potassium recommendation. With the fertilizer level of 75% traditional + 25% nano, the average pods per plant, seed yield, and protein percentage were 23.08, 5466, and 30.67%, respectively. The nano recommended level averaged 24.17 cm, superior for pod length. However, the number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight did not differ across the different fertilizer levels. With the second addition phase, the pods per plant, seed yield, and protein percentage emerged significantly enhanced with values of 20.47, 4850 kg ha^-1, and 27.66%, respectively.

Keywords: Faba beans, fertilizer level, nano-potassium, growth and yield traits

Key findings: The fertilizer combination of 75% traditional + 25% nano-potassium produced more pods per plant and seed yield than other fertilizer combinations in faba beans (Vicia faba L.). The fertilizer’s second addition phase outperformed the first for pods per plant and seed yield. The highest seed yield occurred with 75% conventional + 25% nano-fertilizer at twice addition.

The presented study determined the effects of nano-NPK and biofertilizer EMG-1 on the growth and oil traits and active compounds of Linum usitatissimum L. The experiment ensued in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement, two factors, and three replications. It transpired in 2022 at the Alsada City, Babel, Iraq. The first factor was foliar application of nano-NPK fertilizer with four concentrations (0.0, 0.7, 0.10, and 0.15 ml L^-1). The second factor was biofertilization of EMG-1 (0.0, 5, 10, and 15 ml L^-1), mixed with soil with a 1-cm incision made near the rhizosphere area. The results indicated a positive role of nano-NPK and biofertilization EMG-1 in improving growth and oil yield traits in flax (L. usitatissimum). The application of nano-NPK (0.15 ml L-¹) and biofertilization EMG-1 (15 ml L^-1) showed a significant increase in the flax’s plant height, fruit branches, oil yield, oil percentage, and linolenic and oleic acids.

Keywords: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), Nano-NPK, EMG-1, growth and oil traits, linolenic acid, oleic acid

Key findings: The results indicated the positive role of nano-NPK (0.15 ml L^-1) and biofertilization EMG-1 (15 ml L^-1) in enhancing the flax’s plant height, fruit branches, oil yield and percentage, and linolenic and oleic acids.

The presented field experiment on rice (Oryza sativa L.) commenced in the summer of 2020 at the Rice Research Station in Al-Mishkhab, Iraq, aiming to estimate the genetic parameters of rice cultivars using bio-, organic, and mineral fertilizers. The experiment layout had a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots included fertilizer combinations, i.e., full dose of mineral fertilizer (T0), full dose of biological fertilizer (T1), full dose of organic fertilizer (T2), half of the mineral and biofertilizer (T3), half of the organic and biofertilizer (T4), and half of the organic and mineral fertilizer (T5). The subplots comprised six rice cultivars, i.e., Yasamin, Dijlah, Mishkhab-2, Brnamge-4, Amber-33, and Ghadeer. The results revealed, on average, the rice cultivar Amber-33 had the tallest plant height (107.32 cm) and minimum days to 50% flowering (103.73 days), and cultivar Dijlah had the highest average for panicle length, 1000-grain weight, and biological yield (28.12 cm, 23.05 g, and 12.29 t ha^-1, respectively). Cultivar Yasamin showed the maximum grain yield (4.50 t ha^-1) compared with other cultivars. For fertilizer treatments, half of the organic and mineral fertilizer (T5) had the utmost average of grain yield (4.05 t ha^-1), and half of the mineral and biofertilizer (T3) had the maximum plant height, panicle length, and biological yield (90.24 cm, 25.13 cm, and 13.58 t ha^-1, respectively).

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.) cultivars, biological fertilizers, mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers, , growth and yield traits

Key findings: Rice (O. sativa L.) cultivars and fertilizer combinations revealed significant differences for all the traits. Cultivar Yasamin showed the highest average grain yield (4.50 t ha^-1). The solutions with half of the organic and mineral fertilizer (T5) and half of the mineral and biofertilizer (T3) excelled in most of the characteristics under study.

The presented study pursued determining the effect of biosynthesized nano-zinc oxide in managing root and stem rot on broad bean (Vicia faba L.) caused by the fungi Rhizoctonia solani. The two laboratory experiments transpired in 2022 at the Al-Qasim Green University, Iraq. The pathogenic fungal isolates cultivation on millet seeds ensued by infecting them with the R. solani vaccine in the laboratory. The effect of nano-zinc on R. solani growth suppression succeeded probing. The completely randomized design used had two factors. The first factor was bean cultivars, local and Spanish, while the second factor was the treatment of fungi R. solani with nano-zinc oxide six times. The results showed zinc nanoparticles considerably inhibited the fungus growth, which causes root and stem rot in broad beans. Since ZnONPs suppressed the fungal isolate growth (100%) compared to 0% in the control treatment, 20 μg/ml was optimal. In the pot experiment, the nano-zinc oxide foliar application had the lowest fungi infection (28.33%), compared with 81.67% in the control treatment. Nano-zinc oxide reduced infection severity to 6.92% versus 44.45% with fungal therapy alone. In treating the pathogenic fungus with nanoparticle-zinc oxide (ZnO) in the Spanish cultivar, polyphenol oxidase had the highest activity (0.94 unit ml^-1), while in the local cultivar and control, the therapy had 0.08 enzyme percentage.

Keywords: Broad bean (Vicia faba L.), ZnO-NPs, fungus, R. solani, root and stem rot, fungus

Key findings: Zinc nanoparticles considerably suppressed the fungus development and boosted the growth of the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) plant.

The irrigated soil resistance to degradation is vital in its usability. The ordinary gray-brown, gray, and meadow-gray soils reached degradation to a different degree under irrigation conditions. The soils used as pasture are distinct due to erosion. In irrigated soils, the water-resistant aggregates considerably decreased and resistance to erosion reduced. Therefore, the degradation was intensive in gray-brown, meadow-gray, and gray soils. Generally, dividing the soils for resistance to erosion consisted of five groups: a) the lowest resistant — bottom washing rate (0.040 m/sec), b) low erosion resistant — bottom washing rate (0.040–0.050 m/sec), c) moderate bottom — washing rate (0.051– 0.075 m/sec), d) high resistant — bottom washing rate (0.075–0.095 m/sec), and e) the highest erosion — resistant bottom flow rate (0.095 m/sec). The division of soils also comprised five groups based on degradation resistance: a) very weakly resistant, irrigation-eroded, saline, and solon solonchak soils, b) soils with varying degrees of weak resistant erosion, fragmented, and poorly developed vegetation, c) moderately resistant, irrigated poorly salinized, and solonetzificated soils with an inclination of 0.050 and more, d) high-resistant soils with more than 2.5 humus, thick, highly erosion-resistant, and weakly salinized soils, and e) the highest-resistant soils, non-salinized soils with weak surface-inclination, density, irrigated, and highly resistant to erosion.

Keywords: Soil degradation, erosion-resistant, bottom-washing rate, degradation resistance, irrigated soils, grouping against erosion and degradation

Key findings: The research based on efficient land use is crucial. As a result, the study found that soil resistance to natural and anthropogenic influences is low. Based on soil resistance to external influences, the soils ranked from high to low, light gray-brown, meadow-gray, and gray.

The presented study explored approaches on the formation of cartographic and attribute information using the GIS technology for management of arable lands. This research included the development of advanced methodology for organizing agriculture lands using modern geoinformation technology through developing a digital cartographic environment. It further contained the database for agro-ecological soil properties, thematic maps for land management, and creation of a plan for using land in the study area. The latest research also revealed the foundation of the methodology for the land management of modern agro-formations, considering the requirements of the landscape approach to land use. An analysis of the agro-ecological state of the soil cover also ensued, obtaining the data from the analysis of thematic maps and land structure. The study revealed that 52.5% of the total assessed area consisted of chestnut ordinary soils, and 43.1% were floodplain meadow-chestnut soils. The proposed approach of arable land management can also apply in other regions of Kazakhstan for improving soil fertility and reducing degradation levels.

Keywords: GIS technology, geographic information systems, land management, agricultural lands, thematic maps, attribute data, data formation

Key findings: Using modern geoinformation technologies helped develop a methodology for organizing the arable lands. A digital cartographic environment developed included thematic layers of cartographic information for the study area. Generating a database containing analysis of agro-ecological soil properties also resulted.

Soil salinity appears as one of the most relevant abiotic factors negatively affecting wheat yield and quality, and creating varieties that can adequately respond to this factor is an urgent task today. The presented study assessed the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to salinity at the ontogenetic stage based on variations in morphometric parameters. Eight spring wheat cultivars’ evaluation identified salt-tolerant genotypes beneficial in future breeding programs. The study of salt stress with varied influence on the shoot and root length of wheat seedlings ensued. The results revealed substrate salinity leads to a significant decrease in seed germination, length and weight of shoots and roots, and leaf area (by 12.8%–97.6%). Wheat cultivars displayed varied responses to different salinity concentrations based on morphometric indicators. According to the degree of negative impact on wheat plants, the salinity types can be as NaCl < Na₂SO₄. The highest sensitivity of wheat cultivars to salinity was evident at the seed germination and the growth of seven-day-old seedlings. Based on the presented study, some spring soft wheat (Kayraktash, Pakhlavon, Es-4, and Es-61) cultivars showed distinction with different levels of salt tolerance that can benefit future breeding programs.

Keywords: Spring wheat (T. aestivum L.), cultivars, salt tolerance, chloride salinity, sulfate salinity, response to salinity, germination and growth traits

Key findings: Four wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivars were tolerant to chloride and sulfate salinity at the juvenile stage of development from the eight studied samples. These are Kayraktash, Pakhlavon, Es-4, and Es-61, providing the highest germination at different salinity levels. These genotypes can be a valuable source in future breeding programs.

Plant growth-promoting rhizospheric fungi (PGPRFs) are fungi mainly present in the soil rhizosphere. Through their mutual interaction with plants, these fungi provide a range of developmental benefits, yet some species of the fungi are harmful. The current study had nine fungi isolated, where five strains were from the rhizosphere and the remaining strains were from the bulk soil of maize (Zea mays L.). The research also tested maize seedlings against rhizospheric and bulk soil fungi. The Rhizo Brown and Bulk Gray have shown the highest growth rate compared to all other fungi. Association of isolates with host plants increased growth kinetics and biomass production, as measured by root length (36%), shoot length (37%), fresh weight (37%), dry weight (43%), and chlorophyll (67%) content. Besides, the association also promoted the biosynthesis of Indole Acetic Acid (46%) and Gibberellic acid (30%), improving the nutritional quality in maize. Results of the growth of the fungal strain on the agar plate indicated the absence of their antagonistic effect on each other’s growth. It was evident that combining both fungi can serve as bioinoculants to promote plant growth. The interaction between seeds and fungi confirmed the roots of the seedlings move toward the fungus, suggesting a beneficial plant-microbe interaction. Study results revealed that the rhizospheric and bulk soil fungi were plant growth-promoting fungi, improving agricultural productivity and are marketable for wider use in farming practices in Pakistan.

Keywords: Rhizosphere, bulk soil, maize (Z. mays L.), IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid), GA (gibberellic acid), nutritional quality, plant-microbe interaction

Key findings: The isolates of rhizospheric and bulk soil fungi promoted the growth of maize (Z. mays L.) seedlings by increasing root and shoot length, biomass, and chlorophyll content. These fungi also increased the production of plant hormones in maize and colonized its roots. The presented study identified these fungi as promising tools for promoting maize growth and potentially improving agricultural practices.

This research investigated the effects of bio-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on proline content, peroxidase, and catalase enzyme activity of two Iraqi wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Ibaa 99 and Al-Rasheed) compared with NPK fertilizers. The biosynthesis of AgNPs from A. graveolens aqueous extract, and their characterization occurred through the alteration in color of the reaction blend, as an unambiguous proof for AgNPs’ formation. Determining the size and shape of AgNPs used a scanning microscope and an atomic force microscope to characterize them. Uv-spectrophotometer described the AgNPs, revealing the peak of highest absorption at (𝛌max) 408 nm. The X-Ray Diffraction device application diagnosed the AgNP properties. The research transpired at the AL-Nahrain Laboratories, where cultivated cultivars in September 2022 had three replications for each concentration of biosynthesized AgNPs and NPK treatments (0.1, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/ml), and a control for comparison. A significant decrease in proline was evident for Al-Rasheed cultivar, while a significant increase appeared in Ibaa 99 cultivar. A notable decrease in proline resulted from NPK fertilizer treatments. Peroxidase and catalase enzyme activity significantly rose in both cultivars, while nonsignificant differences were visible when using NPK between them.

Keywords: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), biofertilizers, silver nanoparticles, antioxidant enzymes activity, Apium graveolens L.

Key findings: In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops, the silver nanoparticles can be safe for use to improve the physiological and biochemical traits and replace the chemical fertilizers negatively affecting the soil and human health.