A Novel Mineral Composition Increases Soybean Crop Yield by Mitigating Stress Induced by Ultraviolet-A and -B Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is an important environmental abiotic stress that consistently affects the yield potential of agricultural crops causing hidden losses; few practical solutions are available for protecting large-scale field cultivation. Here, we assess protective effect a novel mineral composition principally based upon concentrated suspension microparticles crystalline and insoluble quartz sand applied as foliar spray over top plants to mitigate effects UV-A or UV-B radiation. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) were cultivated under three alternative UVR exposure scenarios (no UV, +UV-A, +UV-B) compare sprayed unsprayed plants. Measurements malondialdehyde (MDA) proline contents demonstrated +UV-A +UV-B on effectiveness in mitigating such stress. Biometric assessment showed root weight, biomass number pods negatively impacted by both +UV-B; whereas, plants, damages almost entirely mitigated. The results this study endorse use promising tool growers achieve sustainable yields soybeans potentially other face increasing challenges due climate change.