Lahoucine Ech-Chatir

This study aimed to compare the impact of biostimulants on wheat ( Triticum durum L.) in two consecutive field experiments conducted in 2023 and 2024. The experiments tested the effects of Bacillus sp., Bacillus subtilis (R), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (M), and compost (C) under two irrigation regimes: 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for well‐watered conditions and 30% ETc for drought stress. Furthermore, the research focused on the combined and individual impacts of these biostimulants on wheat growth, yield and soil properties. The obtained results showed that drought stress caused significant declines in biomass, physiological traits and biochemical markers in both years. Furthermore, the application of biostimulants, especially C + M and M + R combinations, resulted in significant improvements. In 2023, shoot and root dry weights under drought stress increased by 137% and 72%, respectively, compared with the control. The 2024 results confirmed similar trends, with grain and straw yields rising by 167% and 130%, respectively. Additionally, biostimulants/biofertilisers positively impacted soil quality highlighting their role in enhancing wheat's resilience to drought through improved soil–plant interactions. These results underline the long‐term benefits of integrating biostimulants/biofertilisers into wheat farming under water‐limited conditions.

In the context of climate change, alterations to the physico-chemical properties of soils, particularly in Mediterranean regions, are a growing source of preoccupation. This study analyzes the ecological plasticity and biochemical adaptability of Thymus saturejoides to changes in soil physico-chemical properties in four contrasting environments in Morocco’s western High Atlas (TM: Tidili msfioua, SF: Sti fadma, TA: Taouss, TN: Tisi ntast). It highlights the influence of edaphic characteristics on the physiology and metabolic composition of the species, revealing marked soil heterogeneity between sites. The results for the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil revealed marked heterogeneity between sites. Tisi ntast and Taouss soils had the highest values in terms of electrical conductivity (TN: 0.25 dS/m, TA: 0.18 dS/m), available phosphorus (TN: 18.58 ppm and TA: 26.06 ppm) and total nitrogen (TN: 0.27% and TA: 0.14%), associated with a silty texture, suggesting higher fertility. Conversely, the soil at the TM site was characterized by low total nitrogen content (0.09%), a high C/N ratio (24.4) and a sandy-silty texture, indicating more constraining conditions for plant growth. From a physiological standpoint, plants from the TA site had the lowest chlorophyll levels (17.10 mg g⁻¹FW), while those from the TN site showed the highest levels (31.08 mg g⁻¹FW), accompanied by increased protein content and reduced polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase. In contrast, TM plants showed significant accumulation of total soluble sugars (30 mg g⁻¹FW), proline (22.53 µmol g⁻¹FW), hydrogen peroxide (1.33 nmol g⁻¹FW) and malondialdehyde (62.97 nmol g⁻¹FW), reflecting strong activation of oxidative stress responses. On the other hand, plants from the TA site displayed significantly lower levels of these stress markers compared to other sites, suggesting greater physiological resilience. These results highlight the pivotal role of interactions between edaphic and environmental conditions in modulating plant physiological and biochemical responses, shedding light on the ecological adaptation mechanisms of plant species to the contrasting ecosystems of the Western High Atlas.

Irrigation scheduling, coupled with the use of biofertilizers, constitutes an effective management strategy to overcome soil drought. This study aimed to assess the individual and combined effects of three selected biofertilizers—(R) Bacillus sp. and Bacillus subtilis, (M) native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and (C) compost—on Triticum durum L. The agro-physiological and biochemical traits, along with the soil properties, were evaluated under two different water regimes, 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for the well-watered regime and 30% ETc for the drought-stressed regime under field conditions, using a drip irrigation system. Drought stress (DS) led to significant reductions in the biomass, physiological parameters, and biochemical markers. Furthermore, the application of CM and MR significantly boosted the shoot and root dry weight by 137% and 72%, respectively, under DS compared to the control. Moreover, CM and R resulted in a notable increase of 167% and 130% in the grain and straw yield, respectively, under the same conditions. The normalized difference vegetation index showed improved values in the plants inoculated with MR and CMR, respectively, under DS conditions. Additionally, the soil quality was positively influenced by the application of M and/or R and/or C biofertilizers. These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate soil–plant interactions and the beneficial effects of combined biofertilizers in enhancing wheat’s resilience to drought stress.

Water scarcity has been escalating both in terms of frequency and severity, owing to climate change and global warming. Furthermore, water is a vital source that is at the core of crucial sectors like agriculture. Yet, this source is labeled scarce, and its distribution is uneven globally. For the aforementioned reasons, achieving a rational use of water is of utmost importance. In this framework, computational intelligence like artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and machine-learning, has been gaining momentum for implementing smart irrigation and precision agriculture. Thus, the chapter surveys a selection of recent studies, corroborating AI, IoT, and machine-learning as promising approaches to advance agriculture. The chapter also sheds light on the notion of virtual water, proposes strategies to deal with water scarcity, and highlights the essential components to achieve effective smart irrigation, thereby switching toward an innovative model of sustainable digital agriculture.