Drought stress poses a critical threat to maize productivity by impairing physiological processes and yield formation. Silicon (Si) has emerged as a stress-mitigating element due to its ability to improve plant water status, preserve membrane stability, and protect photosynthetic pigments under drought conditions. However, there is a further need to explore the effectiveness of foliar-applied Si in hybrid maize under different drought conditions, especially during the reproductive stage. This pot experiment was conducted during fall 2023 to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar-applied silicon (Si) in mitigating drought-induced damage in hybrid maize. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design using a factorial arrangement with three field capacity levels (100%, 80%, and 60% FC) and four silicon concentrations (0, 4, 6, and 8 mM). Drought stress at 60% FC reduced grain yield per plant by 32.7%, thousand-grain weight by 16.3%, relative water content by 23.9%, and chlorophyll a by 46.2% compared with the well-watered control. While foliar application of 8 mM Si alleviated drought effects by increasing grain yield by 30.7%, biological yield by 7.5%, and relative water content by 9.2% compared with untreated plants under 60% FC. Cell membrane injury was reduced by 12.9% with 8 mM Si under severe drought. Significant FC × Si interaction effects were observed for thousand-grain weight, grain yield per plant, biological yield, grain protein content, and grain rows per cob. These findings suggest that, among the tested treatments, foliar application of 8 mM Si was most effective in reducing drought-induced physiological damage and maintaining yield under severe reproductive-stage drought stress.
Drought stress in agricultural land disrupts the physiological processes, growth, and yield of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala). This study evaluated the physiological responses, growth, and yield of kale treated with salicylic acid, a potential strategy to enhance plant tolerance to drought stress, in a greenhouse at the Department of Agriculture, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang. A 4 × 4 factorial experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The first factor was drought level (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% field capacity). The second factor was salicylic acid (SA) concentration 0, 0.75, 1.5, and 2.25 mM). The results indicated that physiological responses (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, relative water content, and electrolyte leakage) remained largely stable under moderate drought stress (60% FC), whereas plant growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, and leaf area) were reduced by 14.5–20.7% compared with the control (100% FC). At 40% FC, both physiological and growth responses were more severely affected; electrolyte leakage increased markedly, and plant height, leaf area, and dry biomass weight decreased by 24.4%, 47.2%, and 60.5%, respectively, compared with the control (P < 0.05). The best treatment was the application of 1.5 mM salicylic acid, which increased the relative water content by 4.13% and decreased the electrolyte leakage by 34.70% compared to untreated plants (P < 0.05). This concentration was likely more effective due to optimal stomatal regulation, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and maintained membrane integrity, indicating that 1.5 mM SA has potential as a biostimulant to improve kale water status and membrane stability. However, field validation across locations and seasons is needed before recommending it for dryland farming.
Rosyida Rosyida, A. Dinana, Karno Karno et al.· Agro Bali: Agricultural Jour...· 0 citations
Maize is a crop that plays a fundamental role in global food security, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. However, drought stress remains one of the major constraints that limit maize production worldwide. Maize sensitivity to water deficit is especially critical during the flowering stage, often resulting in substantial yield losses. This study aimed to investigate a sustainable strategy to mitigate drought stress in sweet corn through the combined application of silicon (Si) and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in non-sterilized native soil. We hypothesized that the association between Si and AMF could enhance drought tolerance by improving the physiological and agronomic performance of the plants. Our results demonstrated that the combined treatment increased mycorrhizal colonization by 50%, root volume by 53%, soil Si availability, and leaf concentrations of Si and P by 45% and 50%, respectively. Furthermore, under water-deficit conditions, the combined application promoted significant improvements in gas exchange parameters, including increases of 51% in photosynthetic rate, 29% in transpiration rate, 29% in stomatal conductance, and 33% in intercellular CO₂ concentration, as well as a 30% increase in leaf xylem water potential. In addition, water-use efficiency increased by 29%, while industrial yield and soluble solids content increased by 29% and 30%, respectively. These findings provide strong evidence for the synergistic effects of AMF and Si in enhancing drought resilience in sweet corn, highlighting a promising strategy for sustainable agricultural production under water-limited conditions. Further studies are required to evaluate the interaction between Si and AMF using different maize hybrids and AMF strains under drought conditions in natural soils.
J. Borges, D. J. Marques, Maria Cristina Sanches et al.· Irrigation science· 0 citations
Background
: The increasing frequency and intensity of drought events have led to yield and quality losses in sugar beet production in temperate regions in Central Europe. Under arid conditions, silicon (Si) application reduced beet yield losses under drought. Similar data for temperate climates are missing. Moreover, most studies have focused either on foliar application or drip irrigation with Si.
Aims
: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil Si application on the yield and quality parameters of
Beta vulgaris
in a temperate environment.
Methods
: Field trials were conducted at three different sites in Germany and Austria. Different Si fertilisation rates were tested (Site 1: 0, 37, 78 kg ha
−1
; Sites 2 and 3: 0, 50 kg ha
−1
). At Site 1, an irrigated control and a non‐irrigated drought treatment were established. At Sites 2 and 3, irrigation was not possible. Yield and quality parameters were determined after harvest.
Results
: At Site 1, drought stress reduced beet yield by 30% without Si application. Under drought conditions, Si led to a significant reduction in beet yield and net sugar yield losses of 17% and 18%, respectively. Quality parameters were only affected by irrigation, not by Si. No natural drought stress occurred at Sites 2 and 3.
Conclusions
: The results indicate that Si fertilisation could become a relevant tool for sugar beet cultivation in a changing climate. The mechanisms behind this yield effect are yet to be determined. More data are needed to propose clear Si fertiliser recommendations for sugar beet cultivation.
Tabea Selzer, Gereon Heller, Dietmar Horn et al.· Journal of Plant Nutrition A...· 1 citation
Drought stress is a major constraint to wheat and barley production, causing oxidative damage, metabolic disturbances, and reduced crop productivity under changing climatic conditions. Understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms associated with drought tolerance is essential for identifying resilient cultivars and supporting the development of climate resilient cereal production systems. The physiological, biochemical and agronomic responses of two varieties of barley to two irrigation periods: P1 - irrigation every 15 days and P2 – irrigation every 20 days) were evaluated in the winter season 2024 at the University of Baghdad, using a randomised complete block design with factorial arrangement and three replications. Growth characters, activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPX) and yield attributes and grain yield were measured. Variety 1 was superior to variety 2 in agronomic performance. Variety 2 had significantly higher plant height (79.6 cm), leaf area (10.95 cm2), number of spikes (250.08 spikesm2), kernels per spike (48.9) and grain yield (4.63 t/ha) than variety 1. The second irrigation period (P2) improved plant height, number of spikes, number of kernels per spike and grain yield and the activities of SOD and GPX, indicating better antioxidant responses against oxidative stress. However, CAT activity was higher in P1, indicating higher detoxification of hydrogen peroxide in shorter irrigation intervals. In general, the interaction between Variety 2 and P2 yielded the highest values of growth, antioxidant activity and yield. These results indicated that Variety 2 had better physiological and biochemical mechanisms to cope with drought stress and produced more under prolonged irrigation interval.
H. F. N. Alawadi, M. A. Yasir, E. A. Ali et al.· Research on Crops· 0 citations
Most of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growing areas of the world experience environmental stresses including drought (moisture stress) and high temperature (heat stress) that adversely affect crop growth, development and yield. Water-deficit often combined with high temperature stress is the main abiotic factor limiting crop growth and development. The present investigation was performed to study the effect on yield and physiological and biochemical traits of different wheat genotypes under individual heat stress (HS) and drought stress (DS) and combined stress (HS + DS) conditions. Distinct from prior studies which predominantly utilised pot experiments, this investigation offers valuable insights derived from field conditions, thereby providing a more accurate assessment of crop performance under HS + DS. The field experiment conducted in plant phenotyping facility, a total of 60 experimental plots was maintained, comprising 5 genotypes, 4 treatments and 3 replications. Grain yield declined by 31.9 % under HS, 61.6 % under DS and 66.6 % under HS + DS relative to the control. Both individual and (HS + DS) stresses also impaired physiological functioning. The HS + DS treatment induced more pronounced damaging effects on root architecture as well than either stress alone, with reductions of 42.8 % in root volume, 27.8 % in root surface area and 32 % in total root length compared with the control. Overall, HS + DS was more damaging than the individual stress, however, the interaction effect might be due to cross adaptation effect. The genotype DBW-14 exhibited a high grain yield (270 g plot-1) under HS, DS and HS + DS conditions, indicating robust cross-adaptation mechanisms. Although genotype 11 HPYT433 demonstrated superior tolerance based on root parameters and relative water content (RWC), DBW-14 significantly outperformed all other evaluated genotypes in grain yield and overall physiological stability under the HS + DS treatment. Consequently, DBW-14 serves as a promising donor line for breeding climate-resilient cultivars.
