Applying Biostimulants to Combat Water Deficit in Crop Plants: Research and Debate

Climate change has increased the severity of drought episodes by further reducing precipitation in vulnerable zones. Drought induces a substantial decrease agricultural water, crop yields. Consequently, addressing water consumption can increase farmers’ profits. This work describes lab-to-field research Zea mays, using two biostimulants: glycine betaine (GB) and L-pyroglutamic acid (PG). The biostimulant optimal dosages were selected hydroponic system with 20% polyethylene glycol nursery experiments under water-deficit irrigation. established evaluated field trials which irrigation was reduced 20%. Laboratory optimisation showed stressed treated seedlings (GB 0.1 mM; PG 1 mM) an dry weight, relative growth rate use efficiency, seedling loss between 65 85%, respectively. Field GB-optimised dosage plants’ growth, grain yield flour Ca content. In addition, carbohydrate content protein remained similar to control well-watered plants. Finally, economic aspects treatments, consumption, sources (ground vs. desalinated) biomass addressed. Overall, GB treatment demonstrated be valuable tool reduce improve earnings.