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<p>Soil salinity is a major constraint to sustainable agricultural productivity, predominantly in arid and semi-arid areas. Its severity is escalating due to rising temperatures, limited rainfall, poor-quality irrigation water, and excessive fertilizer use, which collectively lead to salt accumulation in the soil. Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilization has been proposed as a strategy to alleviate salinity-induced damage in crops. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of N and salinity doses on maize growth, physiological and biochemical traits, grain quality, and N use efficiency (NUE). A pot experiment was conducted with 12 treatments, comprising four salinity levels (0, 7, 10, and 13 dS m⁻¹) and three N doses: 0&#xa0;kg ha⁻¹ as control (N0), 267&#xa0;kg ha⁻¹ (N1), and 293&#xa0;kg ha⁻¹ (N2). The results indicated that application of N2 substantially enhanced growth parameters (plant height, harvest index, grain weight, cob traits, stem diameter, root fresh and dry weight, and leaf area), and physiological traits (relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll and carotenoid) while reducing malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. NUE and its components [N harvest index (NHI), physiological N efficacy (PNE), N yield efficacy (NYE), and photosynthetic N use efficacy (PNUE)] were also significantly improved under N2 treatment. Grain quality traits (oil, protein, and starch) were maximum at N2, while electrolyte leakage, Na⁺ accumulation, and Na⁺/K⁺ ratios were markedly reduced. These findings demonstrate that optimum N application (293&#xa0;kg ha⁻¹) enhances maize salinity tolerance by promoting osmotic adjustment, stimulating antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative stress, and maintaining ion homeostasis. Thus, N optimization represents an effective strategy to mitigate salinity stress and improve maize productivity and grain quality in saline-prone regions.</p>

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Optimum N Fertilization Enhances Salinity Tolerance and N use Efficiency in Maize through Modulation of Antioxidant Defense and Biochemical Pathways

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月24日

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  • Syed Ayyaz Javed,
  • Muhammad Tauseef Jaffar,
  • Muhammad Ashraf,
  • Muhammad Ahmed,
  • Ali Raza Siddiqui,
  • Hafiz Muhammad Bilal,
  • Jawad Amin,
  • Sanaullah Sattar

摘要

Soil salinity is a major constraint to sustainable agricultural productivity, predominantly in arid and semi-arid areas. Its severity is escalating due to rising temperatures, limited rainfall, poor-quality irrigation water, and excessive fertilizer use, which collectively lead to salt accumulation in the soil. Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilization has been proposed as a strategy to alleviate salinity-induced damage in crops. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of N and salinity doses on maize growth, physiological and biochemical traits, grain quality, and N use efficiency (NUE). A pot experiment was conducted with 12 treatments, comprising four salinity levels (0, 7, 10, and 13 dS m⁻¹) and three N doses: 0 kg ha⁻¹ as control (N0), 267 kg ha⁻¹ (N1), and 293 kg ha⁻¹ (N2). The results indicated that application of N2 substantially enhanced growth parameters (plant height, harvest index, grain weight, cob traits, stem diameter, root fresh and dry weight, and leaf area), and physiological traits (relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll and carotenoid) while reducing malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. NUE and its components [N harvest index (NHI), physiological N efficacy (PNE), N yield efficacy (NYE), and photosynthetic N use efficacy (PNUE)] were also significantly improved under N2 treatment. Grain quality traits (oil, protein, and starch) were maximum at N2, while electrolyte leakage, Na⁺ accumulation, and Na⁺/K⁺ ratios were markedly reduced. These findings demonstrate that optimum N application (293 kg ha⁻¹) enhances maize salinity tolerance by promoting osmotic adjustment, stimulating antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative stress, and maintaining ion homeostasis. Thus, N optimization represents an effective strategy to mitigate salinity stress and improve maize productivity and grain quality in saline-prone regions.