Determination of the Effects of Vermicompost Doses on Growth and Physiological Responses of Durum Wheat under Drought Stress

Hasan Durukan; Handan Saraç; Ahmet Demirbaş

Determination of the Effects of Vermicompost Doses on Growth and Physiological Responses of Durum Wheat under Drought Stress

Abstract

Drought stress is a significant stressors that negatively impacts agricultural production, and mitigating these effects is important for agricultural production. Vermicompost is an environmentally friendly product with a rich nutrient content. This study investigated the effects of vermicompost doses (VD) on shoot dry matter production, macro- and micro-nutrients uptake, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)), and chlorophyll content in durum wheat under drought stress. Drought stress was applied at 100% (FC1), 75% (FC2), and 50% (FC3) of field capacity (FC), while VD was applied at 0% (VD0), 10% (VD10), and 20% (VD20). The results showed that drought stress significantly reduced shoot dry matter production in durum wheat, while VD increased shoot dry matter production. Drought stress, compared to FC1, generally increased nitrogen (N), potassium (K), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) concentrations in durum wheat, while decreasing phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) concentrations. In durum wheat, calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) concentrations increased in FC2 compared to FC1, while Ca and Zn concentrations decreased in FC3. VD generally increased macro-and micro-nutrients concentrations in durum wheat under drought stress. Drought stress increased CAT activity in durum wheat, increased APX activity in FC2 compared to FC1, and decreased it in FC3. The effect of drought stress on POD activity in durum wheat was insignificant. VD increased CAT activity in durum wheat under drought stress, while APX activity increased in FC1 but decreased in FC2 and FC3. The effect of VD durum wheat on POD activity was insignificant. Drought stress reduced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content in durum wheat, while VD increased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content. The study results showed that the use of vermicompost may be effective in partially mitigating the negative effects of drought stress in durum wheat

Keywords

References

[1] Manna, M., Thakur, T., Chirom, O., Mandlik, R., Deshmukh, R., & Salvi, P. (2021). Transcription factors as key molecular target to strengthen the drought stress tolerance in plants. Physiologia Plantarum, 172(2), 847–868. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13268
[2] Takahashi, F., Kuromori, T., Urano, K., Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, K., & Shinozaki, K. (2020). Drought stress responses and resistance in plants: From cellular responses to long-distance intercellular communication. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 556972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.556972
[3] Dere, S., & Daşgan, H. Y. (2022). Domateste kuraklık stresinin bazı fizyolojik parametrelere etkisi. Bahçe, 51(Özel Sayı 1), 180–196.
[4] Zia, R., Nawaz, M. S., Siddique, M. J., Hakim, S., & Imran, A. (2021). Plant survival under drought stress: Implications, adaptive responses, and integrated rhizosphere management strategy for stress mitigation. Microbiological Research, 242, 126626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2020.126626
[5] Büyükuslu, N., & Yiğitbaşı, T. (2015). Reaktif oksijen türleri ve obezitede oksidatif stres. Marmara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi (MÜSBED), 5(3), 197–203. https://doi.org/10.5455/musbed.20150604061607
[6] Karuppanapandian, T., Moon, J. C., Kim, C., Manoharan, K., & Kim, W. (2011). Reactive oxygen species in plants: Their generation, signal transduction, and scavenging mechanisms. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(6), 709–725.
[7] Taha, R. S., Alharby, H. F., Bamagoos, A. A., Medani, R. A., & Rady, M. M. (2020). Elevating tolerance of drought stress in Ocimum basilicum using pollen grains extract; a natural biostimulant by regulation of plant performance and antioxidant defense system. South African Journal of Botany, 128, 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2019.09.014
[8] Rico, C. M., Peralta-Videa, J. R., & Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2015). Chemistry, biochemistry of nanoparticles, and their role in antioxidant defense system in plants. In M. H. Siddiqui, M. H. Al-Whaibi, & F. Mohammad (Eds.), Nanotechnology and plant sciences (pp. 1–17). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14502-0_1

[9] Shi, Y., Chang, Y. L., Wu, H. T., Shalmani, A., Liu, W. T., Li, W. Q., Xu, J. W., & Chen, K. M. (2020). OsRbohB-mediated ROS production plays a crucial role in drought stress tolerance of rice. Plant Cell Reports, 39, 1767–1784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02603-2
[10] Ahluwalia, O., Singh, P. C., & Bhatia, R. (2021). A review on drought stress in plants: Implications, mitigation and the role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 5, 100032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resenv.2021.100032
[11] Denaxa, N. K., Damvakaris, T., & Roussos, P. A. (2020). Antioxidant defense system in young olive plants against drought stress and mitigation of adverse effects through external application of alleviating products. Scientia Horticulturae, 259, 108812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.108812
[12] Vardhini, B. V., & Anjum, N. A. (2015). Brassinosteroids make plant life easier under abiotic stresses mainly by modulating major components of antioxidant defense system. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2, 67. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00067
[13] Ahmad, P., Sarwat, M., & Sharma, S. (2008). Reactive oxygen species, antioxidants and signaling in plants. Journal of Plant Biology, 51(3), 167–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030694
[14] Demirkaya, S., & Öztürk, E. (2022). Buğdayda verim ve verim parametrelerine toprak özelliklerinin etkisi. Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Dergisi, 10(2), 159–164. https://doi.org/10.33409/tbbbd.1211940
[15] Hafez, E. M., Omara, A. E. D., Alhumaydhi, F. A., & El-Esawi, M. A. (2021). Minimizing hazard impacts of soil salinity and water stress on wheat plants by soil application of vermicompost and biochar. Physiologia Plantarum, 172(2), 587–602. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13261
[16] Lopes, T., Hatt, S., Xu, Q., Chen, J., Liu, Y., & Francis, F. (2016). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based intercropping systems for biological pest control. Pest Management Science, 72(12), 2193–2202. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4332
[17] Acar, O., Yıldız, M. T., Günay, E., & Baltacıer, G. (2020). Kuraklık stresi altındaki buğdayda eksojen glisin betain’in fizyolojik ve biyokimyasal etkileri. Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 35, 446–455. https://doi.org/10.7161/omuanajas.790698
[18] Ding, Z., Kheir, A. M. S., Ali, O. A. M., Hafez, E. M., ElShamey, E. A., Zhou, Z., Wang, B., Lin, X. E., Ge, Y., Fahmy, A. E., & Seleiman, M. F. (2021). A vermicompost and deep tillage system to improve saline-sodic soil quality and wheat productivity. Journal of Environmental Management, 277, 111388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111388
[19] Sheela, S., & Khimiya, S. (2013). Vermicompost to save our agricultural land. Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, 1(4), 18–20.
[20] Abafita, R., Shimbir, T., & Kebede, T. (2014). Effects of different rates of vermicompost as potting media on growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and soil fertility enhancement. Sky Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 3(7), 073–077.
[21] Vambe, M., Coopoosamy, R. M., Arthur, G., & Naidoo, K. (2023). Potential role of vermicompost and its extracts in alleviating climatic impacts on crop production. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 12, 100585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100585
[22] Murphy, J., & Riley, J. P. (1962). A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta, 27, 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)88444-5
[23] Kacar, B., & Inal, A. (2008). Plant analysis. Nobel Publication.
[24] Bremner, J. M. (1965). Total nitrogen. In C. A. Black, D. D. Evans, I. L. White, L. E. Ensminger, & F. E. Clark (Eds.), Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties (pp. 1149–1178). American Society of Agronomy.
[25] Akgül, B., Öztürk, L., Kısa, D., & Genç, N. (2018). De-etiolasyon sürecinde fasulye (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yapraklarında antioksidan enzim aktiviteleri ve toplam fenolik bileşik miktarlarında değişimler. Gaziosmanpaşa Bilimsel Araştırma Dergisi, 7(3), 70–76.
[26] Havir, E. A., & McHale, N. A. (1987). Biochemical and developmental characterization of multiple forms of catalase in tobacco leaves. Plant Physiology, 84(2), 450–455. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.84.2.450
[27] Angelini, R., Manes, F., & Federico, R. (1990). Spatial and functional correlation between daimine-oxidase and peroxidase activities and their dependence upon de-etiolation and wounding in chick-pea stems. Planta, 182(1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239989
[28] Nakano, Y., & Asada, K. (1981). Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts. Plant and Cell Physiology, 22(5), 867–880. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a076232
[29] Arnon, D. I. (1949). Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiology, 24(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.24.1.1
[30] Singh, D., Kaushik, R., Chakdar, H., & Saxena, A. K. (2023). Unveiling novel insights into haloarchaea (Halolamina pelagica CDK2) for alleviation of drought stress in wheat. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 39, 328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-023-03781-3
[31] Zaki, H. E. M., & Radwan, K. S. A. (2022). Response of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars to drought stress under in vitro and field conditions. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, 9(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-021-00266-z
[32] Durukan, H., Demirbaş, A., & Turkekul, I. (2020). Effects of biochar rates on yield and nutrient uptake of sugar beet plants grown under drought stress. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 51(21), 2735–2745. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2020.1849257
[33] Benaffari, W., Boutasknit, A., Anli, M., Ait-El-Mokhtar, M., Ait-Rahou, Y., Ben-Laouane, R., Ben Ahmed, H., Mitsui, T., Baslam, M., & Meddich, A. (2022). The native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost-based organic amendments enhance soil fertility, growth performance, and the drought stress tolerance of quinoa. Plants, 11(3), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030393
[34] Akpınar, Ç. (2020). Organik gübre uygulamalarının ve kimyasal gübre uygulamasının buğday bitkisinin gelişimi ve besin elementleri alımına etkileri. Alatarım, 19(2), 91–98.
[35] Hosseinzadeh, S. R., Amiri, H., & Ismaili, A. (2018). Evaluation of photosynthesis, physiological, and biochemical responses of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Pirouz) under water deficit stress and use of vermicompost fertilizer. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17(11), 2426–2437. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61874-4
[36] Akhzari, D., & Pessarakli, M. (2017). Effects of vermicompost and urea fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of Vetiveria zizanioides Stapf. grown under drought stress conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 40(14), 2063–2075. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2017.1346126
[37] Coşkan, A., & Şenyiğit, U. (2018). Farklı sulama suyu düzeyi ve vermikompost dozlarının marul bitkisinin mikro element alımına etkileri. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 13(Özel Sayı), 348–356.
[38] Taleshi, K., & Osoli, N. (2015). Influence of drought stress, vermicompost and N fertilizer on safflower leaves antioxidant enzymes activity. In International Conference on Chemical, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (CABS-2015) (pp. 55–60). Istanbul, Turkey.
[39] Javadi, T., Rohollahi, D., Ghaderi, N., & Nazari, F. (2017). Mitigating the adverse effects of drought stress on the morpho-physiological traits and anti-oxidative enzyme activities of Prunus avium through β-amino butyric acid drenching. Scientia Horticulturae, 218, 156–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.02.019
[40] Rahimi, A., Gitari, H., Lyons, G., Heydarzadeh, S., Tuncturk, M., & Tuncturk, R. (2023). Effects of vermicompost, compost and animal manure on vegetative growth, physiological and antioxidant activity characteristics of Thymus vulgaris L. under water stress. Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 33(1), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1124458

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant Physiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hasan Durukan ^*
0000-0002-2255-7016
Türkiye

Handan Saraç
0000-0001-7481-7978
Türkiye

Ahmet Demirbaş
0000-0003-2523-7322
Türkiye

Publication Date

February 27, 2026

Submission Date

March 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 47 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA73AW49UC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Durukan, H., Saraç, H., & Demirbaş, A. (2026). Determination of the Effects of Vermicompost Doses on Growth and Physiological Responses of Durum Wheat under Drought Stress. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 47(1), 25-33. https://izlik.org/JA73AW49UC