Susilawati Kasim

As carbon-rich materials, biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC), the by-products of feedstocks produced through pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization, respectively, have demonstrated encouraging promise as soil conditioners that enhance soil fertility and crop development and have recently gained attention as potential products for seed germination improvement, growth, and yield, this research was carried out to evaluate the impact of BC and HC on rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings germination and growth under laboratory conditions. conduct the factorial the experiment, five (5) treatments for each of BC and HC, respectively was applied. The results indicated that T1(0%), T2 (1%), T3 (2%), T4 (4%), and T5 (6%) of BC and HC increased germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index (GRI), germination energy (GE), shoot length (cm), fresh and dry shoot weight (g), fresh dry root weight (g), root/shoot ratio, and plant biomass, which GP, GRI, and GE showed increased by 70.2% and MGT by 66.6% in comparison with the control (0%) for BC and HC, respectively. Treatments 1%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of BC and HC significantly increased shoot length by 43.8% and 60.5%, respectively. Fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight, and plant biomass were significantly increased in comparison to the control for BC and HC at lower and higher concentrations, respectively. The findings reveal that lower concentrations of BC and higher concentrations of HC may be used as a viable soil conditioner to enhance rice seed germination and improve growth.

Biostimulant is enriched in nutrients and antioxidants have been used to promote plant growth and resist abiotic stresses. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Euphorbia hirta extract (EHE) on growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.) under drought stress conditions. Plants were sprayed with three different concentrations of EHE at 1, 3 and 5 g/L. The results showed that drought causes negative effects on plant height, fresh and dry weight and soluble sugar. Application of EHE significantly increased fresh and dry weight (FW: 11.9 ~ 22.6%; DW: 15.2 ~17.9%), chlorophyll content (Chl a: 38.3 ~ 64.4%; Chl b: 63.3 ~ 113.3%), soluble sugar (40.7 ~ 42.9%), GSH (22.4 ~ 85.7%), and compared to CK treatment under drought conditions, while decreased the level of MDA. In addition, drought stress stimulated phenolic, flavonoid, proline, GSH, MDA and antioxidant enzyme (CAT, POD and SOD) activities. Interestingly, the positive effect of EHE application with high concentration (5 g/L) was more effective than those of SWE. Therefore, EHE can is considered as a natural and inexpensive biostimulant for foliar application strategy to protect plants from drought stress.

It is imperative to enhance crop yield to meet the demands of a burgeoning global population while simultaneously safeguarding the environment from adverse impacts, which is one of the dominant challenges confronting humanity in this phase of global climate change. To overcome this problem and reduce dependency on chemical fertilizer, scientists now view the implementation of biostimulant strategies as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to achieving sustainable agriculture. Plant extracts are rich in bioactive phytocompounds, which can enhance plant resistance to disease, pest, and abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salinity, and extreme temperature), and promote plant growth and productivity. Furthermore, the application of plant extracts through soil drenching can also significantly change the rhizosphere soil microbiome, and indirectly interact with plants, eventually stabilizing plant growth. Currently, the application of plant extracts as a whole is effective, which emphasizes the contribution of complex interactions between multiple compounds, with seaweed extracts being the most widely studied and utilized. Interestingly, plant extracts are compatible with fertilizer and can be applied in conjunction with nutrient inputs to further enhance their effectiveness. Given all this knowledge, exploring the growth and functional effects induced by plant extracts, as well as understanding their interactions and mechanisms in plants, is crucial for developing advantageous approaches with potential value in integrated crop management systems, ultimately contributing to sustainable production.

Plants contain a variety of phytochemicals, which act as natural bioactive compounds to help plants enhance abiotic tolerance and promote growth. Therefore, plant extracts are considered to have great potential as environmentally friendly biostimulants in sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to identify the phytochemical compounds and quantify nutrients present in three plant extracts, namely Euphorbia hirta, Polygonum minus, and Eleusine indica, as well as to explore the effect on the growth of maize seedlings (Zea mays L.). The plant powder was extracted using methanol, followed by a solid-liquid extraction procedure. The phytocompounds were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, while mineral nutrients were quantified using inductively coupled plasma. Five concentrations of plant extracts, i.e., 5, 15, 25, 50, and 100%, were designed to evaluate seed germination and priming. The result showed that 53, 45, and 39 phytocompounds were identified from E. hirta, P. minus, and E. indica, respectively, and classified into different chemical groups (such as flavonoids and amino acids) and rich nutrients (for example, N, P, and K). Besides, P. minus and E. hirta extracts with lower concentrations (5 and 15%) showed a positive effect on germination, shoot length and fresh weight, and the Highest concentration (100%) of E. hirta and E. indica extracts exhibited strong toxicity. This study emphasizes that weed extracts containing abundant secondary metabolites and nutrients can be used as natural biostimulants for maize seed priming.

To investigate the effects of foliar application of different concentrations of Elusine indica extract (EIE) on growth, photosynthesis, and osmoprotectant contents in maize under drought stress. The weed powder was extracted using methanol, followed by a solid-liquid extraction procedure. Plants were sprayed with three different concentrations of EIE at 1, 3, and 5 g/L and morphological parameters, chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), soluble sugar, proline, protein, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were determined. The results showed that drought stress led to a decline in morphological characteristics, RWC and soluble sugar and increased proline, protein, GSH, and MDA contents. However, foliar application of EIE significantly improved plant height, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content, RWC, soluble sugar, and GSH, while the proline level was diminished compared to drought treatment. Soluble sugar showed a significant positive correlation with fresh and dry weight (r = 0.742 and 0.783, p < 0.01) and a strong negative correlation with MDA (r = -0.459, p < 0.05). Therefore, this result indicated that EIE can be used as an inexpensive and environmentally friendly biostimulant to help plants enhance tolerance to drought.

The sustainable management of agricultural waste is vital for addressing environmental challenges while enhancing resource efficiency in agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of agricultural residues, specifically coconut and oil palm by-products, as growth media components. Growth media mixtures were formulated using coconut coir dust (CCD), coconut shell ash (CSA), and palm kernel shell biochar (PKSB), and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that a growth media mixture consisting of 100% CSA demonstrated high pH (7.89), electrical conductivity (2.70 dS m-1), cation exchange capacity (12.57 cmolc kg-1), and significant concentrations of P (13.90 mg l-1) and K (191.70 mg l-1), which suggests its suitability as a liming agent. However, this mixture exhibited limitations in aeration and water retention due to low porosity (24.3%). Furthermore, increasing the proportions of CSA and PKSB significantly enhanced the growth media’s bulk density and particle density. These findings provide valuable insights into developing efficient growth media from agricultural by-products, thereby contributing to sustainable waste management and innovative farming practices.