Use of Biofertilizers as an Effective Management Strategy to Improve the Photosynthetic Apparatus, Yield, and Tolerance to Drought Stress of Drip-Irrigated Wheat in Semi-Arid Environments
Chayma Ikan,
Fatima-Ezzahra Soussani,
Redouane Ouhaddou,
Lahoucine Ech-Chatir,
Farid Errouh,
Abderrahim Boutasknit,
Amine Assouguem,
Essam A. Ali,
Riaz Ullah,
Essaid Ait Barka,
Rachid Lahlali,
Abdelilah Meddich
Affiliations
Chayma Ikan
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Fatima-Ezzahra Soussani
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Redouane Ouhaddou
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Lahoucine Ech-Chatir
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Farid Errouh
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Abderrahim Boutasknit
Laboratory of Agro-Food, Biotechnologies and Valorization of Plant Bioresources (AGROBIOVAL), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Amine Assouguem
Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknès 50001, Morocco
Essam A. Ali
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Riaz Ullah
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Essaid Ait Barka
Unité de Recherche Résistance Induite et Bio-Protection des Plantes-EA 4707-USC INRAE1488, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
Rachid Lahlali
Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknès 50001, Morocco
Abdelilah Meddich
Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-CNRST-05), “Physiology of Abiotic Stresses” Team, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Irrigation scheduling, coupled with the use of biofertilizers, constitutes an effective management strategy to overcome soil drought. This study aimed to assess the individual and combined effects of three selected biofertilizers—(R) Bacillus sp. and Bacillus subtilis, (M) native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and (C) compost—on Triticum durum L. The agro-physiological and biochemical traits, along with the soil properties, were evaluated under two different water regimes, 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for the well-watered regime and 30% ETc for the drought-stressed regime under field conditions, using a drip irrigation system. Drought stress (DS) led to significant reductions in the biomass, physiological parameters, and biochemical markers. Furthermore, the application of CM and MR significantly boosted the shoot and root dry weight by 137% and 72%, respectively, under DS compared to the control. Moreover, CM and R resulted in a notable increase of 167% and 130% in the grain and straw yield, respectively, under the same conditions. The normalized difference vegetation index showed improved values in the plants inoculated with MR and CMR, respectively, under DS conditions. Additionally, the soil quality was positively influenced by the application of M and/or R and/or C biofertilizers. These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate soil–plant interactions and the beneficial effects of combined biofertilizers in enhancing wheat’s resilience to drought stress.