Journal of Plant Production and Sustainability

Exploring stage-specific responses of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to supplementary irrigation under agro-climatic conditions of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Basharat Ali — 2025-12-29

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a nutritionally rich legume, holds promise for food security, yet its productivity is severely affected by drought stress. This study investigated the performance of ten chickpea genotypes under two water regimes: supplemental irrigation (SI) and rainfed conditions (RC), to evaluate genotype-specific responses in morphology, physiology, and biochemistry. Significant differences were observed in all agronomic traits across irrigation regimes. Plant height was reduced under rainfed conditions, with CH21/13 showing a decrease from 68.2 cm (SI) to 62.8 cm (RC). BRC-474 consistently recorded the shortest stature under both regimes. The number of branches per plant was highest in CH21/13 under SI (mean of 9.3 branches), while BRC-474 had the fewest (5.1 branches) under RC. Canopy width was also significantly affected, with CH21/13 reaching 33.6 cm under SI and showing an 11% reduction under RC. Biological yield increased by 36% with irrigation, highlighting the critical role of water in biomass accumulation. In terms of root development, drought-tolerant genotype D-1700 exhibited the highest root dry weight (3.72 g), shoot dry weight (6.88 g), and RS ratio (0.54) under RC, indicating an adaptive allocation toward root growth to enhance water uptake. Chlorophyll content decreased by 15% under drought conditions compared to full irrigation. Lipid peroxidation, measured via malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, was highest in the drought-sensitive genotype TG-1504 under RC (3.92 µmol g⁻¹ FW), compared to CH21/13 (2.45 µmol g⁻¹ FW). MDA was negatively correlated with yield components and positively with root traits, indicating its dual role as a stress indicator and modulator of plant defense. These findings suggest that CH21/13 and D-1700 possess traits favorable for drought tolerance, including taller plant architecture, rapid root systems, higher chlorophyll retention, and lower oxidative damage under water-limited conditions. © 2025 The Author(s)

Evaluating the effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid on heat stress tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Syeda Gulshan Batool — 2025-12-29

Heat stress is a major abiotic constraint that impairs photosynthesis, disrupt cellular homeostasis, and reduce grain yield in wheat. Salicylic acid (SA), an important signalling molecule, enhances tolerance to several abiotic stresses, but its role in improving wheat performance under heat stress remains insufficiently explored. Therefore this research study was was conducted to evaluate the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA; 5 mM) on heat stress tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. FSD-2002). Plants were exposed to >32 °C after 45 days of seedling growth and treated with SA as a foliar spray, soil supplementation, or both. ANOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in all growth and yield traits. Under control conditions, shoot and root lengths increased from 59 and 33 cm in untreated plants to 87 and 52 cm with combined SA treatment, while under heat stress they rose from 49 and 26 cm to 71 and 45 cm, respectively. Shoot and root fresh weights improved from 5.6 and 1.5 g to 8.7 and 3.1 g under control, and from 4.5 and 1.3 g to 7.7 and 2.2 g under stress. SA enhanced physiological traits, raising SPAD values from 34.2 to 46.1 (control) and 27.5 to 39.4 (stress), and leaf area from 21.5 to 35.6 cm² and 16.4 to 29.3 cm², respectively. Yield traits improved markedly: spikes from 8 to 15, spikelets from 20 to 35, grains per spike from 35 to 52, and 1000-grain weight from 35 to 59 g under control; corresponding stressed values rose from 5 to 11 spikes, 12 to 26 spikelets, 22 to 38 grains, and 30 to 51 g. Mineral nutrition was enhanced, with shoot calcium increasing from 8.1 to 11.5 mg/g DW (control) and 7.2 to 9.8 mg/g DW (stress), sulphate from 6.9 to 11.1 and 6.1 to 9.6 µg/g DW, and phosphate from 7.5 to 10.3 and 7.0 to 9.7 µg/g DW. These findings demonstrate that SA plays a key role in strengthening heat stress tolerance in wheat by sustaining biomass production, improving mineral nutrition, and preserving chlorophyll and photosynthetic capacity under thermal stress. © 2025 The Author(s)

Comparative in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial potential of ethanolic leaf extracts from different Artemisia species against infection-causing pathogens

Hina Fazal — 2025-12-29

Artemisia species are commonly administered in polyherbal drugs to treat various infectious diseases. The main component of Artemisia species is artemisinin that showed a multi-dimensional biological activity. Focusing on the therapeutic potential, the aim of this study was to provide scientific evidence for the antimicrobial activity of six Artemisia species viz. Artemisia scoparia, Artemisia persica, Artemisia arborescens, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia nilagirica. Leaf extracts were prepared using ethanol and then antimicrobial assay was performed following agar well diffusion method. Eight bacterial strains were grown on nutrient agar, however, C. albicans was grown in potato dextrose agar (PDA) followed by required incubation. Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin and Clotrimazole were used as standard antibiotics for antimicrobial activity. Results revealed that all six Artemisia leaf extracts exhibited measurable antimicrobial activity, though with varying potency across species. A. persica showed the strongest and broadest activity, producing the largest inhibition zones (up to 20.5 mm), particularly against E. coli, B. subtilis, K. pneumoniae, and S. mutans. A. scoparia and A. arborescens also demonstrated broad-spectrum inhibition, with moderate activity across all tested strains. A. absinthium and A. vulgaris displayed comparatively lower but consistent antimicrobial effects, with the greatest activity observed against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. A. nilagirica exhibited selective activity, showing strong inhibition of S. aureus (17 mm) but no effect on P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, or C. albicans. Overall, the findings indicate that Artemisia species possess varying degrees of antimicrobial potential, with A. persica emerging as the most effective across the tested microorganisms. Hence, it can be concluded that the selected species can be used as a potential source of antimicrobial agents in food and pharmaceutical industries. © 2025 The Author(s)

Assessing the role of agriculture in enhancing livelihoods in rural Tehsil Lawa, District Chakwal, Pakistan

Saif Ullah — 2025-12-29

This study examined the role of agricultural farming in the livelihood of rural communities in Tehsil Lawa, District Chakwal. It focused on the impact of high input costs (seeds, pesticides, fertilizers), small landholdings, limited innovation adoption, lack of guidance, illiteracy, and market insecurity on farmers’ socio-economic conditions. The research also aimed to identify best practices for improving rural livelihoods through better agricultural production. Data was collected from 144 progressive farmers using a structured questionnaire. Results showed that 80% of farmers were poorly educated, while 20% were illiterate. Due to this, 60% were unaware of modern farming techniques, and many found such technologies too costly to adopt. About 80% lacked sufficient financial resources, and 74% reported inadequate access to microcredit facilities. The findings revealed that improved agricultural practices significantly enhanced crop yields and farmers’ socio-economic status. Most farmers stated that higher crop production increased their family income. Among them, 90% used this income for house construction and family marriages, while others spent it on better health and education for their families. The study concluded that enhanced agricultural productivity leads to better livelihoods in rural communities. It is recommended that both government and non-government organizations support farmers through education, financial assistance, subsidized fertilizers, timely input delivery, and access to modern technologies. Additionally, improved trade policies should be introduced to ensure direct benefits for rural communities. © 2025 The Author(s)

Assessing the role of value addition of deciduous fruits in poverty reduction in Tehsil Danyor District Gilgit

Altaf Hussain — 2025-12-29

This study investigates the impact of value addition in deciduous fruit production on household income and poverty reduction among smallholder farmers in Tehsil Danyoure, District Gilgit, and Pakistan. Despite favourable agro-climatic conditions, the region suffers from significant post-harvest losses (50–70%) due to minimal processing and poor market linkages. The results revealed that cherry (37.76%) and apricot (27.80%) are the dominant deciduous fruits cultivated in Tehsil Danyore, highlighting strong potential for targeted value addition. Among existing practices, drying (50.21%) and packaging (26.97%) were the most common, while advanced techniques such as cold storage were absent, contributing to high post-harvest losses (up to 49.38% reporting very high losses). Most farmers participated in packaging and marketing activities but had limited involvement in processing and product development, indicating early-stage value chain engagement. Value addition was primarily pursued to increase profitability (29.46%) and extend product shelf life (26.97%). Despite universal access to training programs, 40.25% rated them as average, suggesting a need for more practical and follow-up support. Farmers possessed substantial experience in fruit cultivation, yet faced key constraints such as financial limitations (40.66%), lack of infrastructure (24.48%), and inadequate technical knowledge (14.52%). A large majority (71.78%) demonstrated high awareness of the benefits of value addition, recognizing its role in improving profit margins (47.72%) and product value (35.68%). High-potential opportunities identified included dried fruit snacks (30.71%) and innovative packaging (26.14%), reflecting avenues for diversification and entrepreneurship. Value addition was also perceived to generate direct employment (24.48%) and support rural development (14.11%). The study concludes that value addition has strong potential to enhance income, reduce poverty, and generate rural employment if supported through targeted training, infrastructure development, and market facilitation. Low-interest credit schemes and microfinance facilities should be made available to help small farmers invest in processing equipment and packaging materials. © 2025 The Author(s)

Chemical characteristics, functional properties and health benefits of Panax ginseng: An updated review

HE Bo — 2025-12-29

Panax ginseng (C.A. Meyer) is a highly valued medicinal plant widely recognized for its bioactive compounds and health-promoting properties. The roots, leaves, and berries of P. ginseng contain a complex mixture of bioactive constituents, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, flavonoids, peptides, and phenolic compounds. Ginsenosides, the primary pharmacologically active components, are triterpenoid saponins classified into protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) types based on their aglycone structures, with major forms including Rg1, Rb1, Re, Rc, and Rd. Other secondary metabolites, such as ginseng polysaccharides and polyacetylenes (e.g., panaxydol and panaxynol), contribute complementary antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. The chemical composition and concentration of these metabolites vary between plant parts and species, influencing their functional properties and therapeutic efficacy. Experimental studies have demonstrated that P. ginseng exhibits a wide range of biological activities. Its antioxidant properties mitigate oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals and enhancing endogenous defense mechanisms. Ginseng also modulates immune responses by affecting macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and T and B lymphocytes, thereby supporting resistance to infections and improving immune regulation. Additionally, ginseng has been reported to enhance cognitive function, including memory, attention, and mood, while reducing mental fatigue and promoting overall vitality. Polysaccharides and ginsenosides contribute to metabolic regulation, including improved insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control. Emerging evidence also suggests potential anticancer benefits, with ginsenosides influencing cell cycle regulation, inhibiting abnormal cell proliferation, and mitigating chemotherapy-induced side effects. This review consolidates current knowledge on the chemical composition, functional properties, and health benefits of Panax ginseng. It emphasizes the need for high-quality standardized extracts and rigorous clinical studies to validate therapeutic effects and fully realize the medicinal potential of this traditional herb. © 2025 The Author(s)

Soil management practices improve physical properties of soil, movement of water within the soil and yield of crops: A review

Abdul Latif — 2025-12-29

Soil is a fundamental medium for plant growth, and its health and productivity are largely determined by its texture and structural characteristics. Soil management is part of production technology and plays an important role to ensure yield productivity of all crops. Water holding capacity, pH and nutrient absorption vary with respect to the soil type. Crop requirement also depends upon the specific type of soil. Tillage practice can affect the physical properties of soil as well as its water holding property and movement of water within the soil. Maximum temperature extreme can burn the organic matter of the soil. Deep tillage increased the bulk density and soil strength of the cultivated area. Greater agricultural intensification can heighten erosion and soil deterioration, mostly in high-temperature zones characterized by thin topsoil layers. Reducing the tillage system, compared to traditional tillage methods, improves precipitation, storage efficiency and increases the amount of water available for crop production. Farming practice like bed and flat planting, mulching also affected the yield of various crops. This article covers effect of all agronomic practices on different crops and can be very useful for farmers. In future studies other than tillage operation would be conducted because agronomic practices like sowing date, thinning, weeding, intercropping, green manuring, vermicompost and crop spacing also have potential effect on crop yield. So, the wise and timely use of farming practice according to the crop requirement is a key to obtain the higher yield of the crops. © 2025 The Author(s)