Plant growth-promoting bacteria contribute to agricultural sustainability by promoting plant growth, enhancing stress tolerance, and degrading pollutants such as organophosphate pesticides. This review documents 52 bacterial species capable of organophosphate degradation, with reported degradation efficiencies ranging from 40 to 99
Nitrogen losses and metabolic imbalance limit nitrogen use efficiency in wheat under conventional urea fertilization. This study examined whether nitrogen nano-fertilizers (N-NFs) improve nitrogen assimilation, reduce nitrogen leaching, and stabilize soil biochemical responses compared with urea. A field experiment was performed using 150 genetically diverse wheat cultivars grown under uniform agronomic management. Urea and N-NFs were applied at three nitrogen concentrations (150, 200, and 250 mg L⁻1) in a factorial design. Agronomic traits, nitrogen accumulation and leaching, nitrogen-assimilatory enzymes, oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant enzymes, and soil biochemical parameters were analyzed. Across nitrogen concentrations, N-NFs increased grain yield by 10–18
Nanofertilizers represent an emerging class of smart agro-inputs designed to enhance nutrient use efficiency, crop productivity, and environmental sustainability. Unlike conventional fertilizers, they consist of nanoscale nutrient carriers or particles (1–100 nm) that enable targeted delivery, controlled nutrient release, and improved uptake by plants. Their higher surface-area-to-volume ratio enhances nutrient solubility and mobility in the rhizosphere, reducing fertilizer losses through leaching, volatilization, and runoff. Nanofertilizers such as nano-nitrogen, nano-phosphorus, nano-potassium, micronutrient nano-chelates, polymeric nanocarriers, and carbon-based nanofertilizers have demonstrated significant potential in improving plant physiological responses, photosynthetic activity, and yield. In addition to enhancing crop productivity, nanofertilizers improve soil fertility by stimulating beneficial microbial populations, promoting enzymatic activity, and supporting long-term soil health. Their application aligns with precision agriculture through integration with remote sensing technologies and site-specific nutrient management systems. However, challenges such as potential nanoparticle toxicity, bioaccumulation in edible crops, limited field-scale validation, lack of regulatory guidelines, and high production costs remain barriers to large-scale adoption. This review summarizes recent advancements in nanofertilizer synthesis, mechanisms of action, application strategies, and environmental interactions, along with associated risks and future prospects to ensure safe and sustainable agricultural intensification.
Exporters in developing economies face significant challenges when trade policies in destination markets are unpredictable. This study examines how demand-side trade policy uncertainty (TPU) shapes Pakistan’s export diversification along both the extensive and intensive margins during the period 2013–2022. Using a sector-specific TPU index at the HS-6 digit level, the paper estimates a gravity model employing Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML), Probit, and system GMM estimators. The results show that higher TPU discourages entry into new export markets and constrains the expansion of existing export relationships. However, stronger institutional quality appears to mitigate these adverse effects. The findings suggest that stable trade policies, improved institutional support, and targeted policy interventions can enhance export resilience and diversification, particularly in the agriculture and industrial sectors. Overall, the study provides policy-relevant insights for Pakistan and offers broader lessons for developing economies seeking to navigate trade uncertainty, expand market participation, and strengthen export performance in an increasingly volatile global environment.
Biochar has emerged as an effective and sustainable amendment for improving soil fertility and mitigating environmental pollution in soil–plant systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in biochar production, characteristics, and applications in soil restoration and contaminant remediation. Biochar is typically produced through slow pyrolysis of biomass feedstocks such as crop residues, wood waste, and animal manure at temperatures ranging from 350–700 °C, producing a stable carbon-rich material with high surface area and porous structure. Most effective applications involve fine to medium particle sizes (< 2 mm) and soil application rates of approximately 5–30 t ha–1, depending on soil properties and management goals. Evidence indicates that biochar is particularly beneficial in degraded, acidic, and sandy soils, where it significantly improves soil physical properties (aggregation, porosity, bulk density, and water-holding capacity), chemical properties (pH buffering, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient retention), and biological properties (microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and rhizosphere interactions). In polluted soils, biochar plays a critical role in mitigating contaminants through mechanisms including adsorption, ion exchange, surface complexation, precipitation, and redox reactions, which reduce the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Its highly porous structure and functional surface groups also facilitate microbial colonization and phytoremediation processes, enhancing pollutant degradation and improving plant tolerance under stress conditions. Overall, biochar-based strategies provide a multifunctional approach for soil fertility restoration, pollution mitigation, and climate-resilient agriculture, although further long-term field studies are required to optimize biochar properties, application rates, and soil-specific management practices for large-scale implementation.
