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Salinity and boron (B) toxicity frequently co-occur in arid and semi-arid agricultural systems. However, their combined effects on biomass allocation, internal B distribution, and consumer-oriented quality remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the effects of three salinity levels (2, 5, and 10 dS m⁻¹) and three boron concentrations (0.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg L⁻¹) on yield performance, boron partitioning, and sensory quality of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) under greenhouse conditions using a 3 × 3 factorial design. Severe salinity (10 dS m⁻¹) significantly reduced fresh head yield, whereas moderate salinity (5 dS m⁻¹) maintained yield levels comparable to non-saline conditions. Increasing external B supply elevated tissue B concentrations, with preferential accumulation in older leaves. Sensory evaluation showed that overall quality declined markedly at severe salinity levels, falling below the consumer acceptability threshold (score = 3.0). No significant association was found between head B concentration and overall quality (r = –0.39, P > 0.05), whereas a significant negative association was observed between the Boron Mobility Index (BMI) and overall quality (r = –0.71, P < 0.05). Based on the present findings, salinity emerged as the primary factor limiting marketability under combined stress conditions, while boron distribution dynamics provided additional insight into stress-related quality responses.

The study aimed to determine how the physiological responses of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plant were affected by prolonged drought stress, salinity stress, and boron application, as well as to assess the recovery dynamics following re‐watering. The experimental design included well‐watered (WW 80% watering), drought stress (DS, 20% watering) salinity stress (SS, 0 control and 13 dS m⁻¹), boron toxicity (Na₂O₅B₂O₃.10H₂O, at different doses of 0 and 8 mg L⁻¹) and re‐watering after a long‐term period of drought stress (24 days). The well‐irrigated (80% WW) treatment, which included all factors as a the non‐stressed control treatment during the experiment was carried out with five replications. Morphological, physiological and biochemical analyses of plants were measured at four time points: at the 10th and 24th days after the onset of the drought stress period and after re‐watering, at 2nd and 7th days following. The relative membrane permeability was increased and relative water content was decreased because drought and salinity stress limited water availability and caused an imbalance in the water status of the leaves and stem of the plant. Even though high levels of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions interfered with essential nutrient uptake under drought stress and boron application, Ca⁺² ion levels in the leaves significantly increased in the leaves of plants in areas treated with drought, salt, and boron after re‐watering. Extended or intense drought and salinity conditions harmed the phloem and xylem tissue cells of the stem by changing cell size and density, which in turn disrupted biochemical processes, including the functioning of water channels under challenging circumstances. Particularly under conditions of salt and drought stress, the vascular bundles in the plant stem were observed to either shrink significantly or assume an irregular shape. Long‐term drought reduced relative water content (RWC) values, resulting in plant dehydration and increased osmotic pressure (RMP) in leaf cells, further exacerbated by salinity and drought stress. The plant attempted to regain some of its characteristics in response to these severe stress conditions after re‐watering. However, 24 days after the long dry period, even if watering was re‐applied, the growth power of the plant was reduced due to the disturbance in membrane permeability as a result of excessive cell damage.

This study investigated the effects of salinity and K-humate concentrations on soybean germination. The findings contribute to our knowledge of soybean germination under salt stress and the potential use of potassium humate. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Field Crops at Adnan Menderes University, Turkey. Seeds were surface-sterilized and placed on filter paper in Petri dishes. Different concentrations of water (control), NaCl solution (3 dS m^-1), and K-humate solution were added. The experiment followed a factorial design with two factors and four replications. K-humate had a positive impact on germination rate. Significant differences were observed among control, salinity, and salinity * K-humate applications. Salinity reduced germination percentage. K-humate mitigated the negative effects of salinity, improving germination. These findings suggest the potential use of K-humate to enhance seedling establishment and overall plant productivity in salinity-affected environments.

In unmanaged ecosystems, soil nitrogen (N) released through mineralization of organic matter constitutes the source of N for the plants. In agro-ecosystems, N is applied additionally as mineral or organic fertilizers in order to compensate N which is removed with products. Adequate and timely application of fertilizer N as dictated that by contribution of soil N to crop production is important for minimizing production costs from overuse of N fertilizer and for reducing possible environmental impacts. Using 15N-labelled fertilizers, it has now been convincingly proved that majority of the plant N comes from the soil N. Thus, soil N plays a vital role in supplying N to crop plants and dictates the efficiency of applied fertilizer N. Size of available N pool, though relatively small as compared to total soil N, throughout the crop growth season determines whether crop gets adequate N nutrition or N is lost from the soil-plant system. As fertilizer N contributes directly to available N pool and by N substitution to the soil organic matter pool, N management at that point following the principles of synchrony between crop N need and application of N through soil and fertilizer N can lead to high fertilizer NUE (nitrogen use efficiency). Evaluation of site-based N management in cereals using gadgets like chlorophyll meter, leaf colour chart or optical sensors or OTG (on the go) crop sensing spreaders revealed that same yields can be achieved with less N fertilizer applied but with enhanced fertilizer NUE and diminished losses of N to the environment.