Prospective Practice for Compound Stress Tolerance in Thyme Plants Using Nanoparticles and Biochar for Photosynthesis and Biochemical Ingredient Stability

Abstract

Global climatic change leads to many detrimental effects on all life forms. Outstanding case, salinity, and drought are considered multidimensional stress that severely affect plant growth and sustainable agriculture. Thymus vulgaris is a medicinal plant that has phytochemical constituents, and it is threatened by several abiotic stresses caused by climate change. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the physiological response and thyme tolerance grown on a newlyreclaimed saline sandy soil under drought conditions and treated by biochar-loaded biofertilizers, nano-zeolite, and nano-silicon through two consecutive seasons. The nanoparticles enhanced plant growth and alleviated the adverse effect of drought. Additionally, a synergistic effect was noticed when combining nanoparticles and biofertilizers. The quadruple combined treatment of nano-zeolite, nano-silicon, biochar, and organic matter (T7) significantly increased thyme morphological traits, photosynthetic parameters, oil, and yield compared to control treatment. Additionally, T7 increased the concentration of endogenous nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn), proline, total phenols, and total flavonoids, in addition to indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid, and antioxidant enzymes in thyme compared to other treatments. T7 showed the lowest concentration of soluble sugars, abscisic acid, and transpiration rate. Interestingly, T7 increased the medicinal benefits of thyme by increasing its vital hydrocarbons, and oxygenated compounds. These findings introduce a dual benefit of nano-fertilizers in combination with biochar and organic matter in ameliorating soil salinity and drought along with increasing thymegrowth, productivity, and therapeutic value.