Enhancing Crop Resilience to Drought Stress: Antitranspirants, Zeolite and Water Conservation Strategies for Strategic Crop Productivity

Abstract

This review endeavors to present a comprehensive overview of the current state of understanding regarding the ramifications of drought stress on the productivity of strategically important crops. It also delves into the positive effects of applying antitranspirants to plants subjected to drought stress. Moreover, this review seeks to explore the advantageous role of zeolite amendment in conserving irrigation water. By thoroughly analyzing the existing literature, this review aims to amalgamate and scrutinize the principal discoveries, emerging patterns, and research gaps up to the present time.The review will emphasize the imminent threats posed by water scarcity to the agricultural sector in Egypt and underscore the strategies for ameliorating the detrimental impact of water deficits through the reduction of irrigation water requirements. It will further examine the influence of water deficits on plant performance and highlight the efficacy of zeolite, employed as a soil conditioner alongside antitranspirants like kaolin and magnesium carbonate, in both conserving irrigation water and enhancing plant growth. Additionally, this review will pinpoint substantial challenges and prospects in the field, with the ultimate objective of guiding future avenues of research and pragmatic applications.