article · Sustainability
Drought and poor soil nutrient availability limit crop growth in arid and semiarid regions. Researchers tested a controlled-release, biodegradable formulation using potassium-nitrate-loaded chitosan and montmorillonite microparticles on spinach grown under normal irrigation, mild drought, and severe drought conditions. Drought stress reduced growth and physiological performance while raising indicators of oxidative stress. Applying the potassium nitrate microparticles improved plant responses under severe water deficits, boosting root length by 122 percent, shoot dry weight by 71 percent, and chlorophyll a by 88 percent compared to untreated stressed plants. The microparticles also enhanced concentrations of soluble proteins, sugars, potassium, and phosphorus. Overall, the treatment proved effective in improving the physiological condition of spinach plants subjected to both mild and severe water restrictions.
Water scarcity and nutrient depletion threaten global vegetable production, particularly for nutrient-dense crops such as spinach. Developing biodegradable, controlled-release nutrient carriers helps maintain crop health during periods of severe water limitation. This research demonstrates a material-based method to sustain plant development and nutrient uptake in arid environments, offering potential tools to manage environmental stress in agricultural systems.
This work points to applications in controlled-release agricultural inputs, specifically biodegradable microparticle fertilisers designed to protect leafy crops from drought. Agricultural chemical developers and commercial growers in water-stressed regions represent potential users. As the abstract describes experimental testing on spinach under controlled drought levels, the technology remains at an early, applied research stage requiring further field validation and formulation scaling before commercial deployment.
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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.
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DOI: 10.3390/su13179903
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