Amelioration of Salinity Stress in Wheat Via Biofertilizer and Metal Complex Integration: Insights into Growth and Biochemical Modulation

Abstract

This study investigates how metal complexes and biofertilizers affect the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under various salinity stress levels. The study used a randomized factorial design and looked at the biochemical (total protein, amino acids, and catalase activity) and physiological (plant height, leaf and root number) responses at 50, 100, and 150 days after sowing (DAS). Plant development was gradually hampered by salinity, which was created by sodium-based salts. This was demonstrated by decreases in plant height, foliar expansion, and root architecture. However, these negative impacts were considerably lessened by biofertilizer treatments that included strains of Azotobacter chroococcum. Under minimal salt stress, biofertilizer treatments outperformed even control conditions in terms of morphological performance and nutrient uptake. Despite their advantages, metal complexes only showed modest gains. An indicator of osmotic regulation, amino acid concentration increased dramatically as salinity increased and was further increased by both treatments, especially biofertilizers. Under salinity, protein content decreased but increased after treatment, particularly at 0.4 M salt stress when biofertilizers brought levels back to almost normal levels. A crucial biomarker of oxidative stress, catalase activity, rose in response to salt exposure and was further enhanced by both treatments, indicating enhanced antioxidant defense systems. The significance of the observed changes was validated by statistical analysis. These results highlight the effectiveness of metal complexes and biofertilizers, particularly the former, in increasing wheat resistance to salt stress. This study backs the incorporation of chemical and microbiological supplements into agronomic procedures, providing a sustainable means of boosting crop yields in salty conditions and tackling upcoming climate change-related agricultural issues.