Audil Rashid

The demand for sustainable agricultural solutions has increased because of issues like declining soil fertility from inorganic soil changes, increasing crop water demands, shifting weather patterns, and decreasing water resources. The addition of activated acacia biochar to degraded soil can significantly influence soil health by improving its moisture and nutrient retention capacity, as well as crop productivity under water-limited conditions. At present, field experiment under split-plot design was conducted to explore the suitable level of activated biochar (A0, 0 tons ha⁻¹; A1, 5 tons ha⁻¹; A2, 10 tons ha⁻¹;) for maize hybrids (DK-2088, YH-5427, and DK-6317) under different moisture regimes (100% ET_C; full irrigation (FI), 70% ET_C; partially deficit irrigation (PDI), and 50% ET_C; severely deficit irrigation (SDI)) during maize growing year 2023 from February to June. The results showed that the addition of 10 tons ha⁻¹ activated biochar caused a maximum improvement in soil organic matter (109%), saturation percentage (13%), and mineral profile particularly carbon (83%) and calcium (52%). Under full irrigation (FI), activated acacia biochar amendment in the soil caused an improvement in the physiological and biochemical parameters such as sugar (55%) and protein content (136%), and yield attributes of all maize hybrids, particularly DK-6317. However, under severely deficit irrigation (SDI), the highest improvement in protein content, and yield per hectare was found in DK-2088, i.e., 11% to 29% higher in 5 tons ha⁻¹, 10 tons ha⁻¹ activated biochar amended soil, respectively. The average economic gain percentage was highest in DK-6317, i.e., 1-fold, and 2.5-fold higher under PDI, and SDI in 10 tons ha⁻¹ activated biochar amended soil. The present study indicates the significance of organically activated acacia biochar amendments in soil for improving its water retention capacity and enhancing maize growth and yield under moisture-deficit conditions.

Selenium (Se) is an essential metalloid and is categorized as emerging anthropogenic contaminant released to the environment. The rise of Se release into the environment has raised concern about its bioaccumulation, toxicity, and potential to cause serious damages to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor Se level in environment on a regular basis. Understanding Se release, anthropogenic sources, and environmental behavior is critical for developing an effective Se containment strategy. The ongoing efforts of Se remediation have mostly emphasized monitoring and remediation as an independent topics of research. However, our paper has integrated both by explaining the attributes of monitoring on effective scale followed by a candid review of widespread technological options available with specific focus on Se removal from environmental media. Another novel approach demonstrated in the article is the presentation of an overwhelming evidence of limitations that various researchers are confronted with to overcome achieving effective remediation. Furthermore, we followed a holistic approach to discuss ways to remediate Se for cleaner environment especially related to introducing weak magnetic field for ZVI reactivity enhancement. We linked this phenomenal process to electrokinetics and presented convincing facts in support of Se remediation, which has led to emerge ‘membrane technology’, as another viable option for remediation. Hence, an interesting, innovative and future oriented review is presented, which will undoubtedly seek attention from global researchers.