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Advances in Biosaline Agriculture

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2022) | Viewed by 23768

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Abdelaziz Hirich

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Guest Editor

African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laayoune 70000, Morocco
Interests: biosaline agriculture; soil fertility; alternative crops; plant production; salinity; climate change

Dr. Redouane Choukr-Allah

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Guest Editor

Department of Crop Production, Protection and Biotechnology, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Rabat 10101, Morocco
Interests: salinity; horticulture; plant fertilization; crop production; wastewater reuse

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Capitalizing on the vast potential of biosaline agriculture requires a major interdisciplinary and collaborative research effort to inform effective and supportive policy frameworks and to evaluate the most promising methods for developing biosaline agriculture in different salt-affected regions. Current research around the world illustrates the vast and as yet underrated potential of growing food in soils generally qualified as saline. This means that salt‐affected and other degraded lands should be viewed as a valuable resource rather than a liability. Every type of land available for agricultural production should be put to use, as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization projects need to produce 70% more food by 2050. The objective of this Special Issue is to showcase advanced and emergent research in the field of biosaline agriculture, from plant breeding for salinity resistance purposes to value chain development of salt-tolerant crops.

Open access journals are a way of bringing the latest research outcomes to a broad range of readers, as opposed to just specialized researchers. Special Issues of journals can be a collection of otherwise dispersed information and can enhance intensive discussion on issues of interest. We therefore decided to open a Special Issue focused on advances in biosaline agriculture in the journal Plants to promote outputs from field works carried out under saline and arid conditions. This Special Issue will accept papers from a broad range of interdisciplinary research areas on biosaline agriculture ranging from salinity mapping to plant breeding, plant response to salinity and other stresses, alternative crop adaptation and value chain development. Original research papers, methods, reviews, and perspectives are also welcome.

Particularly welcome are research papers on the following topics:

Salinity mapping and characterization
Crop responses to salinity and water stress
Best cropping practices to cope with salinity stress
Breeding, introduction, and upscaling of new salt-tolerant crops
Molecular and biochemical response of crops to salinity stress
Soil amendment, fertilization, and microbes’ associations under salinity conditions
Microbiology of soils and plants in relation to salinity
Development of new crop value chain
Saline water management
Revitalization of saline degraded lands
Biosaline agriculture: socio-economic and policy aspects
Salinity and crop modelling
Halophytes crops and aquaponic

Dr. Abdelaziz Hirich
Dr. Redouane Choukr-Allah
Guest Editors

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Keywords

salinity
alternative crops
microbes
soil amendment
crop yield

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 2562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Salicornia bigelovii Germplasm for Food Use in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates Based on Agronomic Traits and Nutritional Composition

by Dionysia-Angeliki Lyra, Anitha Raman, Aly Hozayen, Rashyd Zaaboul, Fouad O. Abou-Zaid, Ahmed El-Naggar, Sherine Mansoor, Henda Mahmoudi and Khalil Ammar

Plants 2022, 11(19), 2653; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192653 - 9 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3582

Abstract

Climate change significantly aggravates the quality of soil and water, especially in desert regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt concluding in an alarming increase in salinity in the reservoirs of the natural resources. Saline farming rises as a promising solution, utilizing low-quality water and land resources to grow salt-tolerant varieties of conventional crops and halophytes. Samphire (Salicornia spp.) is among the most popular multi-purpose halophytes that are locally consumed in several countries around the world as a vegetable. Six Salicornia bigelovii genotypes (ICBA-2, ICBA-3, ICBA-4, ICBA-8, ICBA-9, ICBA-10) were evaluated for their agronomic performance and nutritional composition in Dubai in UAE and, for the first time, at the Red Sea Governorate in Egypt in the 2019–2020 season using saline groundwater for irrigation (EC_w = 26 and 6.6 dS/m, respectively). ICBA-10 performed well in both locations with high green biomass and seed yield (10.9 kgm⁻² and 116.3 gm⁻², respectively, in UAE; 7.7 kgm⁻² and 82.9 gm⁻², respectively, in Egypt). ICBA-10 was, overall, also good in ion accumulation, total amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids content in both locations for shoots and seeds. Our results indicated that a lack of a drainage system and leaching fraction, the silt loam texture and the drip irrigation system might have contributed in the gradual accumulation of salts in the soil at Mubarak Valley at the end of the experiment at a higher level than ICBA. Apart from the agronomic parameters, higher salinity levels also affected ion accumulation, the amino acids and the fatty acids content for both shoots and seeds, whereas the proximate composition was affected to a lesser extent. Our findings on the high unsaturated fatty acids content under higher salinity corroborate the nutritional value of S. bigelovii oil. Due to its euhalophyte nature, S. bigelovii is a valuable source of minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that render it the most promising salt-loving plant for food use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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15 pages, 1697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Practicing of Rhizobacteria and Silicon Improve Salt Tolerance: Implications from Boosted Oxidative Metabolism, Nutrient Uptake, Growth and Grain Yield in Mung Bean

by Sajid Mahmood, Ihsanullah Daur, Muhammad Yasir, Muhammad Waqas and Heribert Hirt

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1980; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151980 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2559

Abstract

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and silicon (Si) are known for alleviating abiotic stresses in crop plants. In this study, Bacillus drentensis and Enterobacter cloacae strains of PGPR and foliar application of Si were tested for regulating the antioxidant metabolism and nutrient uptake on grain yield of mung bean under irrigation of saline water (3.12 and 7.81 dS m⁻¹). Bacterial inoculation and supplemental Si (1 and 2 kg ha⁻¹) reduced salinity-induced oxidative stress in mung bean leaves. The improved salt stress tolerance was achieved by enhancing the activities of catalase (45%), peroxidase (43%) and ascorbate peroxidase (48%), while decreasing malondialdehyde levels (57%). Enhanced nutrient uptake of magnesium 1.85 mg g⁻¹, iron 7 mg kg⁻¹, zinc 49.66 mg kg⁻¹ and copper 12.92 mg kg⁻¹ in mung bean seeds was observed with foliar application of Si and PGPR inoculation. Biomass (7.75 t ha⁻¹), number of pods per plant (16.02) and 1000 seed weight (60.95 g) of plants treated with 2 kg Si ha⁻¹ and B. drentensis clearly outperformed treatments with Si or PGPR alone. In conclusion, application of Si and PGPR enhances mung bean productivity under saline conditions, thereby helping exploitation of agriculture in low productive areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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11 pages, 3551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen–Salt Interaction Adjusts Root Development and Ion Accumulation of the Halophyte Suaeda salsa

by Shoule Wang, Shaoqing Ge, Changyan Tian and Wenxuan Mai

Plants 2022, 11(7), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11070955 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2284

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) application might exert a great impact on root (biomass, length) distribution, which possibly contributes to ion and nutrient uptakes. Here, we address the effects of N application on these characteristics to detect how N improves its salt tolerance. Suaeda salsa was [...] Read more.

{NO}_{3}^{-}

-N: 0, 0.25, and 0.50 g·kg⁻¹) in soil column experiments. The N applications performed a “dose effect” that significantly enhanced the growth of Suaeda at low salt levels, while negative effects were displayed at high salt levels. Moderate N markedly benefited from

{Na}^{+}

and

{Cl}^{-}

uptake, which was approximately 111 mg and 146 mg per plant at a salt level of 1.0%. Exposure to a certain N application significantly enhanced topsoil root length at salt levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, and it was higher by 0.766 m and 1.256 m under N50 treatment than that under N0 treatment, whereas the higher salt levels accelerate subsoil root growth regardless of N treatment. Therefore, its interactive effects on root development and ion uptake were present, which would provide further theoretical basis for improving saline soil amelioration by N application. Regression analysis always showed that topsoil root length generated more positive and significant influences on ion uptake and vegetative growth than total root length. The results suggested that N application is beneficial to salt tolerance by altering root allocation so as to raise its elongation and gather more ions for halophyte in the topsoil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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8 pages, 6685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Powder from Hoggery Desulfurization Tanks on the Salinity Resistance of Lettuce

by Yao-Tsung Chang, Yong-Hong Lin and Wei-Jia Wang

Plants 2022, 11(7), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11070868 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

Lettuce is an important vegetable cultivated worldwide, even in regions with highly saline soils. A large amount of research discusses the application of sulfur on the increase of antioxidation in plants. The powder from hoggery desulfurization tanks contained high amounts of sulfur and small amounts of other nutrients for plants. This powder can be added to liquid fertilizer to create high-sulfur liquid fertilizer (HSLF). This study observed the cell morphologies of lettuce root apices under salt stress after the application of HSLF. Lettuce plants were cultivated in hydroponic solutions containing one of two NaCl (0 and 40 mM) and three HSLF (0.0, 1.5, and 3.0 g L⁻¹) concentrations. Salinity reduced the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in the plant leaves; however, this reduction was smaller in the HSLF-treated plants. Except for phosphate and potassium, nutrient absorption is inhibited under conditions of high salinity. Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed apices more integrated on cell roots after increasing HSLF supplement under non-salt-stressed conditions. In addition, the cells were repaired after increasing the supplement of HSLF under the condition of 40 mM NaCl. Although salt stress reduced plant growth, the reductions were minimized in the HSLF-treated plants. The application of HSLF potentially alleviated salt injury in lettuce root apices and was probably associated with the improvement of phosphorus and potassium absorption and increasing K⁺/Na⁺ ratios in lettuce plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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22 pages, 2250 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Single and Combined Salinity and High-Temperature Stresses on Agro-Physiological, Biochemical, and Transcriptional Responses in Rice and Stress-Release

by Lutfun Nahar, Murat Aycan, Shigeru Hanamata, Marouane Baslam and Toshiaki Mitsui

Plants 2022, 11(4), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040501 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3957

Abstract

Here, for the first time, we aimed to identify in rice the key mechanisms and processes underlying tolerance to high-temperature (HT) or salt stress (SS) alone, the co-occurrence of both stresses, and recovery using physiological and biochemical measurements and gene expression analysis. We also investigated whether recovery from the two stressors depended on the relative intensities/relief of each stressor. Wild type (‘Yukinkomai’) rice plants were found to be more susceptible to salinity or heat applied individually. SS leads to a depletion of cellular water content, higher accumulation of Na⁺, and alterations in photosynthetic pigments. The stress-tolerant cultivar ‘YNU31-2-4’ (YNU) displayed a lower Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, higher water content in cells and improved photosynthetic traits, antioxidant system, and expression of defence genes. Strikingly, the SS + HT combination provided a significant level of protection to rice plants from the effects of SS alone. The expression pattern of a selected set of genes showed a specific response and dedicated pathways in plants subjected to each of the different stresses, while other genes were explicitly activated when the stresses were combined. Aquaporin genes were activated by SS, while stress-related (P5CS, MSD1, HSPs, and ions transporters) genes were shaped by HT. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses showed that several traits exhibited a gradually aggravating effect as plants were exposed to the combined stresses and identified heat as a mitigating factor, clearly separating heat + salt-stressed from salt-non-heat-stressed plants. Furthermore, seedling recovery was far more dependent on the relative intensities of stressors and cultivars, demonstrating the influence of one stressor over another upon stress-release. Taken together, our data show the uniqueness and complexity of the physiological and molecular network modules used by rice plants to respond to single and combined stresses and recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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15 pages, 7001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Respond to Phosphorus Fertilization and Irrigation Water Salinity?

by Hamza Bouras, Redouane Choukr-Allah, Younes Amouaouch, Ahmed Bouaziz, Krishna Prasad Devkota, Ayoub El Mouttaqi, Bassou Bouazzama and Abdelaziz Hirich

Plants 2022, 11(2), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020216 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3864

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major problem in arid and semi-arid regions, causing land degradation, desertification, and subsequently, food insecurity. Salt-affected soils and phosphorus (P) deficiency are the common problems in the sub-Sahara, including the Southern region of Morocco. Soil salinity limits plant growth by limiting water availability, causing a nutritional imbalance, and imparting osmotic stress in the plants. The objective of this study was to determine the positive effects of P on growth and productivity and understand the major leaf mineral nutrient content of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cv. “ICBA Q5” irrigated with saline water. A field experiment applying three salinity (Electrical Conductivity, EC) levels of irrigation water (ECw = 5, 12, and 17 dS·m⁻¹) and three P fertilizer rates (0, 60, and 70 kg of P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) were evaluated in a split-plot design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in Foum El Oued, South of Morocco on sandy loam soil during the period of March–July 2020. The results showed that irrigation with saline water significantly reduced the final dry biomass, seed yield, harvest index, and crop water productivity of quinoa; however, P application under saline conditions minimized the effect of salinity and improved the yield. The application of 60 and 70 kg of P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ increased (p < 0.05) the seed yield by 29 and 51% at low salinity (5 dS·m⁻¹), by 16 and 2% at medium salinity (12 dS·m⁻¹), and by 13 and 8% at high salinity (17 dS·m⁻¹), respectively. The leaf Na⁺ and K⁺ content and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio increased with irrigation water salinity. However, the leaf content of Mg, Ca, Zn, and Fe decreased under high salinity. It was also found that increasing P fertilization improved the essential nutrient content and nutrient uptake. Our finding suggests that P application minimizes the adverse effects of high soil salinity and can be adopted as a coping strategy under saline conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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14 pages, 1939 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Phosphorus Fertilization Enhances Productivity of Forage Corn (Zea mays L.) Irrigated with Saline Water

by Hamza Bouras, Ahmed Bouaziz, Redouane Choukr-Allah, Abdelaziz Hirich, Krishna Prasad Devkota and Bassou Bouazzama

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2608; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122608 - 28 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3372

Abstract

Salinity is a major problem affecting crop production in many regions in the world including Morocco. Agricultural practices such as fertilization could be useful to overcome this problem and improve crop productivity. The objective of our study was to evaluate the combined effect of phosphorus fertilization and irrigation water salinity on growth, yield, and stomatal conductance of forage corn (Zea mays L.) cv. “Sy sincerro”. Field experiments were carried out for two years testing four levels of irrigation water salinity (ECw = 0.7; 2, 4, and 6 dS·m⁻¹) and three rates of phosphorus (105, 126, and 150 kg P₂O₅·ha⁻¹) fertilization conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The obtained results show that irrigation water salinity had a negative effect on all monitored parameters. For instance, the dry matter yield reduced by an average of 19.3 and 25.1% compared to the control under saline irrigation with an EC value equal to 4 and 6 dS·m⁻¹, respectively. The finding also showed that phosphorus applications tend to increase root weight, root length, stem length, leaf stomatal conductance, grain yield and dry matter yield under salinity conditions. For example, the addition of phosphorus with a rate of 126 and 150 kg P₂O₅·ha⁻¹ respectively improved dry matter yield by an average of 4 and 9% under low salinity level (ECw = 2 dS·m⁻¹), by 4 and 15% under medium salinity (4 dS·m⁻¹), and by 6 and 8% under a high salinity level (6 dS·m⁻¹). Our finding suggests that supplementary P application could be one of the best practices to reduce the adverse effects of high salinity on growth and development of forage corn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biosaline Agriculture)

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