Foliar Potassium Sulfate Application Improved Photosynthetic Characteristics, Water Relations and Seedling Growth of Drought-Stressed Maize

Changing climates and frequent spells of drought have increased the risk crop failure, especially in arid semi-arid regions, thus multiplying vulnerability food-insecure populations. The exogenous application potassium (K) can potentially ameliorate adverse effects maize by maintaining cell osmotic potential turgidity, provided its optimum doses are applied. present experiment comprised two cultivars, viz. Islamabad Gold (drought tolerant) Azam susceptible), grown under well-watered (80% water-holding capacity (WHC)), mild (60% WHC) severe (40% conditions. Different K, 0%, 1% 2%, were also tested to screen out most superior concentration. Drought stress markedly reduced root shoot lengths (25% 16%, respectively) along with their dry weights (20% 10%, respectively). Moreover, a substantial reduction leaf relative water content (RWC) (24%), stomatal conductance, transpiration photosynthesis rates, chlorophyll pigments a, b total contents (31%) recorded, compared However, foliar K2SO4 at 2% concentration outperformed other improving growth attributes, RWC (10%), (9%) proline (12%) Our findings confirmed effectiveness foliage-applied ameliorating rainfed maize; however, more sources K could be for developing it as potent source cope stress.