Mustafa Ceritoğlu

The overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, industrial effluents, and urban trash has resulted in the buildup of heavy metals, metalloids, and persistent organic pollutants, which has made soil contamination a serious environmental concern. In addition to adversely affecting microbial diversity and enzyme activity, these pollutants alter the physicochemical characteristics of soil, such as, bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability. This eventually reduces soil fertility and crop productivity, highlighting that soil health is crucial to ecological balance and environmental defense for sustainable agriculture. More recent studies have suggested the use of novel biochar, such as, enriched biochar, nanobiochar, and engineered nanomaterials, to remediate contaminated soils. In addition to providing a home for microorganisms that are unquestionably advantageous, biochar and its modified forms improve soil structure, organic by-products, and water-holding ability. In targeted remediation (adsorption, immobilization, and transformation of pollutants), nanomaterials frequently work in concert with biochar and other biological amendments. Microbial inoculants, nanomaterials, and biochar have been entirely used in integrated approaches that have demonstrated synergistic effects, improving pollutant removal performance and long-term soil sustainability. Despite these advancements, there are still several obstacles to commercial use, such as, large-scale application, commercial viability, and environmental risks related to nanomaterials, as well as regulatory limitations. However, to develop durable, safe, and affordable techniques for wide-ranging use, more study is required. Closing these gaps will enable effective soil rehabilitation techniques, which enhance soil fertility, increase crop yield, and ensure long-term environmental sustainability, all of which will support ecological resilience and global food security.

The CSM-CROPGRO-Lentil model (DSSAT v4.8.5) was calibrated and validated for 43 ICARDA lentil genotypes across three growing seasons (2019–2022) under semi-arid rainfed conditions in southeastern Türkiye. Calibration against the 2019–2020 season yielded excellent performance for phenological traits (anthesis date nRMSE = 0.8%; maturity date nRMSE = 1.2%), thousand-seed weight (nRMSE = 1.6%), and good performance for grain yield (nRMSE = 19.3%; d = 0.935) and biological yield (nRMSE = 11.1%; d = 0.941). Phenological simulations remained robust (anthesis and maturity dates nRMSE = 6.8% and 1.6%), but grain and biological yield simulations failed (nRMSE = 43.0–74.7%) with opposing bias directions in both validation seasons. Spearman rank correlation collapsed to non-significant levels in both validation years (rho = −0.020 and +0.263), indicating a loss of genotype-ranking capacity, in which only three accessions (G37, G3695, and G21151) maintained simulation error below 40% across both drought seasons. Model bias was not significantly associated with PEG-derived drought tolerance classifications, based on composite stress tolerance index-based reclassification with balanced group sizes (n = 5 vs. n = 5; Mann–Whitney p ≥ 0.548), suggesting that limitations in species-level water stress response functions may have contributed to model failure, although the potential influence of interannual differences in soil hydraulic properties cannot be excluded. Late-maturing genotypes were simulated significantly more accurately than early and mid-maturing genotypes in 2021–2022 (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.013), while large-seeded genotypes showed disproportionately greater underestimation in 2020–2021 (rho = −0.410, p = 0.006). These findings demonstrate that CROPGRO-Lentil reliably simulates phenological diversity under favorable conditions but requires genotype-specific drought stress parameterization and improved seed-filling dynamics to support genotype evaluation under increasingly variable semi-arid moisture regimes.

Sustainable agricultural practices and effective plant nutrition strategies are increasingly important for both yield improvement and the conservation of natural resources. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of microbial and chemical fertilization on lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) growth, yield, and nutrient composition under the ecological conditions of Van, Türkiye. The experiment evaluated the interaction between Rhizobium leguminosarum (RHZ), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria strain (B), and nitrogen fertilizer (NF) across two growing seasons. The findings revealed that both year-to-year climatic variability and treatment combinations significantly affected plant performance. Among treatments, RHZ+NF+B consistently resulted in superior outcomes in biological and grain yields of 2992 and 1302 kg ha⁻¹, representing 19.5% and 28.9% increases over the control, respectively. This integrated approach also boosted grain N, P, and K contents by 11.5%, 34.6%, and 35%, respectively, thereby indicating improved nutrient uptake and mobilization. In contrast, combined application of NF with RHZ and B reduced yield productivity since nitrogen has inhibitory effect on nodulation and nitrogenase enzyme activity. Number of plants per square meter, which ranged from 55.3 to 120.8, was a key determinant of total biomass and pod number per plant, therefore, the higher emergence rates in the first season were likely driven by more favorable climatic conditions. Nutrient analysis showed that integrated microbial-chemical treatments enhanced macronutrient accumulation, however, micronutrient responses exhibited differences. Notably, Fe and Cu concentrations decreased in high-yielding plots, whereas Zn and Mn levels remained relatively stable. The study highlights the importance of tailoring nutrient input strategies to support both biological nitrogen fixation and optimal nutrient composition. It also reinforces the potential of integrated biofertilization practices in promoting sustainable legume production under semi-arid conditions. These results highlight balanced N fertilizer to support biological N2 fixation. Further research is recommended to focus on long-term soil health impacts the long-term impacts on soil health.

Using plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) or exogenous plant growth promoters, i.e., salicylic acid (SA) and gibberellic acid (GA), is an effective strategy for stress management in plants. A few publications have reported that Brevibacterium frigoritolerans has some superior characteristics in the mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Here we report the action of B. frigoritolerans on plant growth, photosynthesis, drought stress, and antioxidant defense system in barley with or without SA and GA treatments. According to the results, the rate of increase was 20.2% at root dry weight, 2.8% at root length, 8.7% at plant height, 248% at SOD, 309% at APX, 234% at CAT, and 20.8% at TSP in Tarm-92 compared with Zeynel Ağa. Root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, plant height, and total chlorophyll content decreased at 25% FC (field capacity) by 34%, 41%, 54%, 15% and 16%, respectively. In addition, high drought stress (25% FC) increased SOD, APX, CAT, MDA, and total soluble protein (TSP) by 140%, 215%, 417%, 198% and 151%, respectively. Control plants exhibited the lowest enzymatic antioxidants and TSP, while they had the highest MDA concentrations in plants. The highest SOD (2001 ng mL^-1), APX (8.83 ng mL^-1), and CAT (29.08 ng mL^-1) were determined with PGPB+GA, PGPB, and GA-treated plants, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest MDA (15.77 ng mL^-1) was observed in PGPB+SA+GA-treated plants. In conclusion, foliar application of 1.5 mM SA or 110 mg L^-1 GA with B. frigoritolerans bio-priming had the most mitigating action on drought stress in barley.

Background: Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress factor that severely limits crop productivity worldwide threatening the sustainability of modern agriculture. This study investigated the combined application of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in mitigating salt stress in triticale (×Triticosecale). Methods: Three salinity levels (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl) and nine microbial treatments including two PGPB strains (KF58B Brevibacterium frigoritolerans and KF63C Paenibacillus xylanilyticus) and two AMF species (Glomus etunicatum and Funneliformis mosseae) were tested using under controlled conditions. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) alterations were investigated to observe plant stress responses. Result: Salinity had a significant inhibitory effect on plant growth. Average seedling fresh weight decreased from 0.759 g (control) to 0.393 g under 200 mM NaCl, while root fresh weight dropped from 0.687 g to 0.167 g. Root length declined by 48.2%, from 29.81 cm to 15.44 cm. Enzymatic activities and stress indicators showed notable variations. According to salinity x treatment interaction, the highest CAT (32.77 ng mL-1) and GSH (5.12 ng mL-1) activity were observed in the KF63C + F. mosseae and KF58B + F. mosseae under severe salinity, respectively. MDA reached a peak of 4.81 ng mL-1 under 200 mM NaCl conditions, but, it reduced by 74.6% with KF58B+G. etunicatum combination. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in morphological characteristics at the seedling stage, enzymatic observations indicated stress mitigation in plants. These findings supported the potential of co-inoculation with PGPB (Brevibacterium frigoritolerans and Paenibacillus xylanilyticus) and AMF (G. etunicatum and F. mosseae) on improving salt stress tolerance in triticale during early seedling stage. In paticular, combination of B. frigoritolerans and F. mosseae is recommended to mitigation of salinity stress in triticale during early seedling stage.

This study aimed to determine the effects of different phosphorus and copper doses and their interactions on the growth and yield parameters of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under field conditions in Siirt, Türkiye. Four phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60, 90 kg P ha⁻¹) and three foliar copper doses (0, 1, 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹) were tested in the study. The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the 2022-2023 season. Results revealed that phosphorus and copper applications significantly affected plant height, number of pods per plant, biological yield, and grain yield (p<0.01). The highest plant height (43.7 cm) was obtained from the combined application of 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹. Similarly, the highest number of pods per plant (87.7) was determined with 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 1 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹ treatments. The highest grain yield (2418 kg ha⁻¹) and biological yield (3024 kg ha⁻¹) were achieved with the combination of 30 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of phosphorus and copper, particularly under alkaline and phosphorus-deficient soils. While in individual applications the yield components reach the highest level at a dose of 60 kg P ha-1, co-application of copper with 30 kg P ha-1 provided the highest yield components. This presents an important result in terms of reduced phosphorus fertilization. Overall, the combined application of 30 kg P ha⁻¹ and 2 g CuSO₄ L⁻¹ proved to be the most effective strategy for improving lentil performance in semi-arid conditions. However, 60 kg P ha⁻¹ is suggested in no copper-treated scenarios.

This study investigated the effects of sewage sludge treatment and Rhizobium inoculation on the growth, yield, and nodulation of lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) under field conditions. The experiment was conducted at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University over two growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four doses of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20, and 40 t ha-¹) were applied with and without Rhizobium inoculation. The results revealed significant seasonal variations, with biological yield decreasing from 8306 kg ha-¹ in 2003-04 to 3262 kg ha-¹ in 2004-05, and grain yield declining from 2716 kg ha-¹ to 633 kg ha⁻¹. The application of 20 t ha-¹ sewage sludge resulted in the highest biological yield (6724 kg ha-¹) and grain yield (1854 kg ha-¹), while higher doses (40 t ha-¹) negatively impacted seed yield. The number of plants per square meter significantly varied between years, and reduced from 183 in 2003-04 to 74 in 2004-05, thereby altering growth and yield attributes. Sewage sludge increased plant density, reaching 153 at 40 t ha-¹, while Rhizobium inoculation slightly reduced it. In contrast to grain and biological yields, the number of seeds per plant and seed yield per plant decreased with increasing sewage sludge doses. Overall, the study suggests that 20 ton ha-¹ sewage sludge application optimizes lentil productivity in semi-arid conditions, but higher doses may lead to reduced yield.

This research assessed 42 lentil genotypes developed by ICARDA along with a local variety over three growing seasons (2019–2022) in Southeastern Türkiye. Phenological, morphological, and yield attributes were determined to observe earliness, yield stability, and adaptation properties. Genotype G3771 showed outstanding performance in grain yield (2579 kg ha⁻¹), 1000-seed weight (54.9 g), and harvest index (37.3%), although it had lower stability under more severe drought conditions. Early-maturing genotypes like G3744, G3715, and G3716 consistently flowered and matured sooner, making them better suited for escaping terminal drought stress areas. The highest yields were recorded during the 2019–2020 season, which experienced favorable rainfall and soil nutrient levels, while the lowest yields occurred due to changing climatic conditions in the 2020–2021 season, highlighting the crop’s sensitivity to climate. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering, the Modified Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI), and the Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) aided in effective genotype classification. Although G3771 was the most productive, genotypes G3687, G3715, and G3689 proved to be the most stable and early maturing based on MGIDI scores. Strong relationships between grain yield, biological yield, and seed size identified these as key selection criteria. This study underscores the value of multi-trait selection tools like MGIDI and MTSI in consistently pinpointing lentil genotypes that balance earliness, productivity, and adaptability, laying a strong foundation for developing climate-resilient varieties suited to semi-arid climates.

Rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus fertilization play a crucial role in enhancing the growth, nodulation, and yield attributes of fenugreek by improving nitrogen fixation. Aim of the study is to explain co-application of Rhizobium and phosphorus treatment on the agronomic performance of fenugreek under rainfed conditions. Study was conducted in a split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications, where Rhizobium inoculation served as the main factor, and phosphorus doses as subplots. The results showed that Rhizobium inoculation significantly increased seed yield per plant and seed yield by 52.4%, biological yield by 22.3% and seed yield by 20%, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of biological nitrogen fixation. 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ fertilization caused the highest plant height (22.7 cm), pod formation (15), and seed yield (135 kg da⁻¹ seed yield). Furthermore, nodule formation showed a linear increase with phosphorus application from 3.33 to 9.00. The best agronomic performance was determined in Rhizobium and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ treated plants, therefore, this fertilization strategy optimally supports plant growth and productivity. According to results, it is recommended that fenugreek cultivation incorporate Rhizobium inoculation along with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ to maximize yield potential. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of these treatments on soil fertility and sustainability to further refine fertilization strategies for fenugreek and other leguminous crops.