Evaluation of Silicon Supplementation for Drought Stress under Water-Deficit Conditions: An Application of Sustainable Agriculture

Drought is a key abiotic stress that confines agriculture development worldwide. Silicon (Si) commonly considered to be valuable element for resistance against drought and sustainable agriculture. To investigate the morpho-physiological biochemical characteristics of Gerbera jamesonii plants, pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions exposed water (60% FC) well-watered (100% conditions. Foliar application Si carried out after ten days (48 sowing) treatment repeated weekly, while well-water regarded as control. Water deficiency significantly abridged morphological attributes, pigments, stress-related metabolites negatively affected photosynthetic apparatus in drought-stressed gerbera plants. However, supplementation by 40 mg L−1 produced increased leaf area (31%), stem length (25%), flower diameter (22%), plant fresh biomass (17%), total chlorophyll (48%), concentration carotenoids (54%) water-stressed Similarly, accretion free amino acid (41%) activities peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate glycinebetaine, soluble proteins, proline, malondialdehyde were enhanced 44%, 31%, 53%, 33%, 330%, 61%, 51%, 66%, respectively, comparison with control Meanwhile, rate (89%), transpiration (12%), stomatal conductance (55%) water-deficit leaves supplementation. This study proposes foliar viable convenient method improving performance elegant plants regions world are facing severe deficiency.