Drought Stress Alleviation by Potassium-Nitrate-Containing Chitosan/Montmorillonite Microparticles Confers Changes in Spinacia oleracea L.

Abstract

Drought and low amounts of mineral nutrients in the soil are the two leading global constraints in arid and semiarid regions. Their detrimental effects on soils and crops can be alleviated by applying controlled release and biodegradable fertilizers to better and sustain the crops. On a global scale, spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is an essential leafy green vegetable that is biologically considered a reliable source of essential nutrients and minerals for human health. A comprehensive approach is needed to manage water stress to mitigate the impacts of stress-caused damage and to examine this for better and increased plant production. An experiment was conducted using potassium-nitrate-containing chitosan/montmorillonite microparticles (150 mg) under mild and severe drought stress (MDS: 50% and SDS: 35% FC, respectively). The treatments include control (no KNO3 and 70% FC as normal irrigation (NI)), KNO3 + NI, 50% FC as mild drought stress (MDS), KNO3 + MDS, 35% FC as severe drought stress (SDS) and KNO3 + SDS. Results revealed that drought stress decreased all studied physiological parameters and increased oxidative stress indicators in spinach. Applying KN significantly increased root (122%) and shoot length (4%), shoot fresh weight (32%) and shoot dry weight (71%), chlorophyll a (88%), carotenoids (39%), total soluble proteins (50%), soluble sugars (51%), potassium (80%), and phosphorous (32%) concentrations over No KN at severe drought. While stress indicators, like glycine betaine, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbic acid levels, were increased in stress. Treatment KN was proved efficient and effective in improving spinach physiological status in both MDS and SDS.

Application of sewage sludge combined with thiourea improves the growth and yield attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under arsenic-contaminated soil

“…Climate changes, environmental pollution, and ever-increasing population growth are major food safety concerns regarding human health [1]. Among abiotic stresses (i.e., drought, salinity, nutrition), heavy metals contamination deteriorate a large agricultural area [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Endophyte Enhanced the Antioxidant Capacity of Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) under Drought Stress

“…Drought stress adversely affects the physiological and biochemical processes of plants and ultimately reduces crop yield [33]. Mild drought improved root growth [34], our result showed that underground dry weight increased in rice seedlings treated with inoculated and uninoculated endophytic fungus in both of E-group and E+ group under 5% PEG concentration. Shoots and roots became shorter at other PEG concentrations, suggesting that drought stress inhibited the shoot and root growth [35].…”

Plant hormones and neurotransmitter interactions mediate antioxidant defenses under induced oxidative stress in plants

“…Likewise, low and high-temperature stresses lead to cell dehydration, cell starvation, and the breakdown of plant proteins, causing cell wall lysis ( Suzuki et al, 2014 ; He et al, 2021 ; Raza et al, 2021a , b ). The upsurge in macro- and micro-nutrients due to alterations in nutrient uptake, transport, assimilation, and their (macro- and micro-nutrients) biological interactions also negatively affects plant productivity ( Salim and Raza, 2020 ; Amanullah et al, 2021 ; Bukhari et al, 2021 ; Makawita et al, 2021 ). Another factor is the presence of metals/metalloids in the environment due to physical and anthropogenic actions, disturbing basic physiological and biochemical processes in plants ( Hasanuzzaman et al, 2020b , c ; Raza et al, 2021d , 2022a ).…”