Silica nanoparticles as a waste product to alleviate the harmful effects of water stress in wheat

Abstract

Drought is a threat to food security and agricultural sustainability in arid and semi-arid countries. Using wasted silica nanoparticles could minimize water scarcity. A controlled study investigated wheat plant physiological and morphological growth under tap-water irrigation (80–100, 60–80, and 40–60% field capacity). The benefits of S1: 0%, S2: 5%, and S3: 10% nanoparticle silica soil additions were studied. Our research reveals that water stress damages the physiological and functional growth of wheat plants. Plant height decreased by 8.9%, grain yield by 5.4%, and biological yield by 19.2%. These effects were observed when plants were irrigated to 40–60% field capacity vs. control. In plants under substantial water stress (40–60% of field capacity), chlorophyll a (8.04 mg g−1), b (1.5 mg g−1), total chlorophyll (9.55 mg g−1), carotenoids (2.44 mg g−1), and relative water content (54%), Electrolyte leakage (59%), total soluble sugar (1.79 mg g−1 fw), and proline (80.3 mol g−1) were highest. Plants cultivated with silica nanoparticles exhibit better morphological and physiological growth than controls. The largest effect came from maximum silica nanoparticle loading. Silica nanoparticles may increase drought-stressed plant growth and production.