Organic fertilization as a strategy to mitigate soil salinity stress in arid and semi-arid agroecosystems

Abstract In arid and semi-arid regions, salinity presents a critical agricultural challenge, as it affects a wide range of physiological and biochemical processes vital to plant growth and development, ultimately reducing crop yield and quality. To address soil salinity stress in these environments and mitigate its harmful effects, the application of organic fertilizers proves to be a crucial strategy, according to existing literature. Organic fertilizers have direct and indirect effects on plants, influencing soil properties, microbial ecosystems, water management, and plant metabolism. Various forms of organic fertilizers, including compost, manure, biochar, and plant extracts, improve soil fertility, enhance salt leaching, and reduce salt accumulation. In addition, they enhance antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, and POD), amino acids, and carbohydrates in plants, improving their resistance to salt-induced stress, while increasing chlorophyll levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, to counter oxidative stress. Under high salinity conditions (10 dS/m), compost application could boost soybean and wheat yields up to 154 and 23%, respectively, while increasing their dry shoot weight by 33 and 37%, respectively. However, the impact of different organic fertilizers such as compost, manure, and biochar on the yield and growth parameters of soybean, wheat, tomato, common bean, and Quinoa varies, underlining the need for customized approaches to meet specific crop needs. The findings of several experiments point to a significant improvement in plant growth parameters and yield components.