DOI: 10.31015/jaefs.2026.2.19 ISSN: 2602-246X

Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on wheat growth, oxidative stress and soil microbial activity under water deficit conditions

Dünya Çiçek, Ali Sarıoğlu
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Water scarcity significantly impacts global wheat production. This greenhouse study investigated the effects of inorganic (urea) and organic (vermicompost, well-decomposed farmyard manure) fertilizers on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Edessa) growth and soil microbial activity under two irrigation levels (100% and 50% water availability). Measured parameters included plant biomass, chlorophyll index (SPAD), relative water content (RWC), oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂, MDA), and soil microbial activity (CO₂ respiration, dehydrogenase activity). Under full irrigation, vermicompost increased plant dry weight (DW) by 14.1% and soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) by 60.7% compared to the control. Water stress reduced DW by 36.1% and DHA by 72.3%, while increasing H₂O₂ and MDA levels. However, vermicompost and farmyard manure significantly mitigated these effects, improving DW by 20.7–29.3% and DHA by 124.8–177.0% (p<0.05). Vermicompost also reduced H₂O₂ by 20.4% and MDA by 37.8%, and improved RWC by 12.9% under stress. Organic fertilizers, particularly vermicompost and well-decomposed farmyard manure, significantly enhanced plant growth, photosynthetic capacity, and soil microbial activity under water deficit. These findings suggest that organic fertilization serves as a sustainable strategy for wheat production in water-limited regions, improving both crop productivity and soil health.

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